Parker, Arizona - PARKER AREA TOURISM TIDBITS

PARKER AREA TOURISM TIDBITS
FEBRUARY-2003
By: Don Rolapp-Tourism Director
WWW.PARKERTOURISM.COM

Consumer Show Season opens with a Bang!
For the first time in our Tourism Committees long history, we thought the timing and situations were right to continue the drive to inform the potential visitors in the Phoenix market area of just how great the Parker area is to visit.
We have saturated the State with press releases and information over the past 6 months and now it was time to go shake some hands and talk one on one to people.

The 32nd annual Arizona National Boat and Fishing Show, February 9-12, provided exactly that opportunity. I will admit that this show was a risk. We had talked to as many as possible of the good potential, but you still never know.

Well, were we in for a surprise! From the time the show opened to the time it closed, your Parker Tourism Booth was busy!

In all, over 2,700 people came to the booth and received the brochures of our PLEDGE PARTNERS. This is an exclusive benefit of our PLEDGE PARTNER program. Each visitor to the booth is treated as special and is walked through all of the opportunities available in the area.

As usual, we held a drawing for a weekend getaway to the area. Our winner, from Gilbert, Arizona has never visited Parker, so that will be terrific! I want to thank the BlueWater Resort and Casino, Arizona Jet Ski Rentals and River Parasail for their contributions to the prize purse.

With that show now behind us...
ITS OFF TO THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SHOW
FEBRUARY 15-23rd, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

PARKER 425 COMPLETE SCHEDULE NOW POSTED!
A completed schedule of events is now posted at www.parkertourism.com
Just go to the site and click on EVENTS.

DIRECT MAILER OFF TO CALIFORNIA
Over 2,000 in Southern California will soon be receiving a direct mail piece covering the major events in our area through April.

Heading the list will be the Parker 425 as well as the great events coming in "SuperWeekend", March 7-9th. That weekend alone will feature four significant activities. At BlueWater; A great Concert; The First Annual BlueGrass Festival at La Paz Park; The Boy vs. the Bulls at Western Park and our Annual Water Ski Race Marathons on the former Enduro course. The Water Ski Race is the only event that races from BlueWater to La Paz County Park and it is truly something to see these great athletes ski 100 miles per hour on a single ski!

CLEAN UP CONTINUES
It is very nice to see those new blue signs up on Hwy 95 from Blue Water Resort. Those Blue signs indicated that the Parker Rotary Club is now the official "Adopt a Mile" for that important stretch of Highway leading up river. A "free dump" roll away program in the Lake Side area also produced great results and a "tip of the hat" to Supervisor Edey for spearheading that program. Our "entrance corridors" and their appearance were one of the leading concerns of those we talked with at the recently completed Arizona Boat Show. Just think of it as our front yard and how important it is to the traveler's opinion and decision on whether to stop in the area!

FIRST SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN!
The first phase of the TOURISM SURVEY is complete! Over a week's period, we went door to door to talk to business owners. The survey extended over a very wide range of business owners.
THIS SURVEY DOES NOT INCLUDE MOTELS!

Here are the two questions and the averages:
QUESTION ONE-
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR OVERALL BUSINESS IS RELATED TO TOURISM?
AVERAGE ANSWER-40%

QUESTION TWO- ON A ONE TO TEN BASIS, (ten being highest)-
HOW IMPORTANT IS TOURISM TO YOU?
AVERAGE ANSWER-10

This is a very telling survey and graphically illustrates the importance of keeping our momentum going full speed ahead in the effort to promote the area. I thank the over 30 business owners that took the time out of their busy days to participate.

WEB SITE REPORT
TOTAL VISITORS - (Dec.15-Jan 16)-------- 87,130
TOTAL VISITORS - (Feb 1-02-Jan 16-03)--- 974,975

In next month's column we will conclude the annual total and give you a report of this year's visitor count! With two weeks left to go in the year…It's going to be close to reach that million !

SOME THOUGHTS
On the heels of the Parker 250 and on the brink of the Parker 425, I want to give credit where credit is due. Casey Folks from Best in the Desert has shown his professionalism in every aspect of his organization. He is a joy to work with. The Tourism Committee serves as the "point organization" to work with the promoters and we have done just that with Casey. But, it should be known, that Casey Folks and BITD would not be here were it not for Jerry McGuire and his vision to bring this event back to the top of Off Road Racing elite status. We look forward to the Parker 425 next month.

WELCOME NEW PLEDGE PARTNERS!
On behalf of the Tourism Committee I want to welcome BIG RIVER RV PARK and HALF TRACK MARINE to our growing family of Pledge Partners. They have been added to the Web Site, Area Travel Guide and will be represented at the Consumer Shows we attend. These are benefits only available to our family of PLEDGE PARTNERS. ARE YOU ONE ?

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