City taking to "forced tourism" to drive local economy
By
Ray Gomez
Story Created:
Nov 18, 2009
Story Updated:
Nov 19, 2009
Desperate times call for desperate measures and the City of Laredo is in dire need of people wanting to come rediscover our flavor.
One Councilman says he's found the solution to attracting more people here, and he's calling it “forced tourism.”
That Council member says it's all about bringing events that lots of people will take part in forcing them to come to Laredo, have a good time, stay, and hopefully come back.
"I like to call it forced tourism, where you create an event that will attract a certain amount of people."
The idea is to transform Laredo into an event hosting hub, offering people the best of both worlds, experiencing the Mexican flare in the Good Ol’ USA.
City representatives say they were just looking for that niche--something that would bring groups of people here who wouldn't normally even think about coming here.
They started the forced tourism concept in October when our city hosted the Rio Fest event, targeting kayakers from all over to come and compete. And just last week, our city played host to Laredo’s first ever bicycle event--the circuit race.
Incentives to get all these people here?
Cash prizes.
"Then they think, hey this isn't so bad. Why don’t we come back on a weekend when we have some free time or just a day trip kind of thing? So that’s what it does for Laredo; it really introduces new people that then could be repeat customers."
Next on the list, Border Billiards on the river:
"We’re working on that for hopefully February or March. We’re looking to bring several hundred different organizations."
And because the biking event was so successful, a similar event is in the works.
"We’re working on an off road type of biking that they used to have here maybe 10 to 12 years ago."
By playing host to all of these events that interest so many people, it’s bound to only drive our local economy.
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mona said on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 12:41 PM
"brining" brining is a process similar to marination in which meat is soaked in a salt solution (the brine) before cooking. ... So we aqre going to cook them!
32300576Huh? said on Wednesday, Nov 18 at 1:11 PM
How is this the councilman's idea if this is what many people have been saying for a long time now - to forget snow parks and highlight the beauty and resources Laredo ALREADY has. Both events he mentioned were definitely not his ideas - they came from smarter people.
32302569Nambre said on Thursday, Nov 19 at 10:56 PM
Border billiards??? Yeah they can have those kind of tournaments at the quarter house by gustavus and Springfield
32392339Outsider said on Friday, Nov 20 at 10:24 AM
Look, Laredo has one main thing going for it, the import export business. IF they would stop this silly idea of turning laredo into a tourist trap and concentrate on getting manufacturing in laredo the city would have a more stabel economy and it will creat more jobs than a tourist trap would. Build on the manufacturing sector of the city and the jobs and taxes will follow.
32410216T-REKZ said on Friday, Nov 20 at 10:49 AM
Forced tourism is an idea that can work only if WE ALL take part in it. Unfortunately the city leaders always want $$ to line their pockets, or else it's not an idea they want to work with. Laredo is NOT a for profit corporation. For once why can't we have events that are just FREE! Free food, free admission! Why should I be charged if I'm already paying for it out of my tax dollars? Let’s invite the WORLD to enjoy Laredo. If they like what they see, they will spend their money here in My Laredo
32411829Big O said on Saturday, Nov 21 at 1:18 PM
Inport export, yeah right. to create more minimum wage jobs???????? get your head out of your 4th point of contact. we need high tech job that pay good wages. you must be one of those guys that is in the inport export business that payes his workers slave wages.
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