Published: May 12, 2008 02:39 am            

Local events to promote city’s tourism week

In celebration of Texas Tourism Week and National Tourism Week, several local events are on tap to promote Palestine’s Tourism Week.

The week officially started on Saturday with the local “Embrace the Arts” event and will run through Sunday.

On Wednesday, the Palestine Convention & Visitors Bureau will hold an open house from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Palestine Visitor Information Center, 825 Spring St., in celebration of the special focus on tourism.

“We invite everyone to join us in celebrating tourism in Texas, and more specifically, in Palestine,” said Palestine CVB Director Susan Cottle-Leonard.

Also on Wednesday, the Museum for East Texas Culture will have a Celebrate Tourism “Free” day offering free admission, and the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility will offer tours to the public at 10 a.m. For information about the balloon facility tour, call 903-729-0271.

In addition, the Howard House Museum will open for tours on Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.

Sweet Dreams Winery will be open Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in addition to their regular Saturday schedule, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This weekend, the 11th Annual Military Weekend will be held Friday through Sunday at the Texas State Railroad Depot in Palestine featuring the Military Armament Train, re-enactors, representatives of various branches of service, civilian aviation helicopters, privately owned military aviation, a 20MM gun mount from the Battleship Texas and many other living history exhibits that cover a broad spectrum of military history including the 1850’s Texas forts period, Civil War and Buffalo Soldiers, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and present day military exhibits. One of the many highlights of the day will be the small arms demonstration on various types of weapons used from different periods of military history and mock WWII battles which will be choreographed by the Texas Military Historic Society.

"The tourism industry is one of the top two industries in Texas, and its impact is pure economic development. Each visitor brings ‘new’ money into the city, increasing not only hotel occupancy tax, but sales tax, because visitors spend money at local retail stores and restaurants, and and on entertainment and services, in addition to money spent on accommodations,” Leonard said.

Tourism Week can have many benefits for Palestine.

"Tourism Week is a good time to find out why visitors come to Palestine, and to look at the city through the eyes of a tourist. In order to market the city, we have to see it as visitors do, then emphasize the positive and upgrade the less positive aspects of the community,” Leonard said.

With high gasoline prices hitting consumer’s pocketbooks hard, Leonard suggests local residents can “Vacation at Home.”

“You can take a getaway weekend in your own city. Have fun at a park and take a picnic, visit our award-winning Sweet Dreams Winery, see a movie, enjoy local art exhibits, take a tour at the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, learn more about area history at the Museum for East Texas Culture and the Howard House, take a driving tour of historic buildings, eat at one of our excellent restaurants, give yourself a spa day, and shop and play in Downtown and Old Town. You could even book a bed and breakfast at one of Palestine’s beautiful historic properties or at a nature retreat,” Leonard said.

Based on 2006 reports by the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism, total direct visitor spending generated $48,078 in Anderson County. The tourism industry in Anderson County directly employed 700 citizens and generated $737,000 in local tax receipts and $3,006,000 in state tax receipts.

In addition, the Oktober-Fall Fest, Dogwood Trails Celebration, the special Texas State Railroad events, Christmas and other events and local attractions, including opportunities to “Embrace Nature,” view historic sites and architecture, and ride the Texas State Railroad, bring thousands of people to Palestine.

According to a City of Palestine proclamation in celebration of Palestine Tourism Week, without the tourism industry and the tax revenue generated by each tourist, each household would face an estimated additional $860 in annual taxes to maintain existing governmental services.

For more information about Palestine’s Tourism Week and activities, call the Palestine Visitor Information Center at 903-723-3014. For more information about Texas Tourism Week, visit the Office of the Governor Economic Development & Tourism industry Web site, www.travel.state.tx.us.

        

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