Sunday, June 29, 1997
Abilene becoming stop for bus tours
By ANISSA CAMP / Abilene Reporter-News
Instead of just a stopping point for folks to stretch their
legs, Abilene is increasingly becoming a destination for bus tour
groups.
Tour groups in growing numbers are shopping and eating downtown,
visiting area attractions, and spending the night in local motels.
June is the biggest month for tour buses coming to Abilene
because of the Fort Griffin Fandangle in Albany, said Kay Irby,
director of visitor services at the Abilene Convention and Visitors
Bureau. Of 28 tours that came through Abilene this month, 20 were
headed for the Fandangle. Because of the lack of motel rooms in
Albany, tour groups have spent the night here.
"The more attractions we have, the more interest it's
going to draw," Irby said. Tours are encouraged to visit
downtown, the Buffalo Gap Historic Village, Dyess Air Force Base
and the Abilene Zoo.
"We just try to get them out and about and in the attractions,"
said Nanci Liles, executive director of the bureau.
Liles said the bureau actively pursues tourism with Abilene
exhibits at marketplaces and promoting Abilene to tour group leaders
and travel companies. Motorcoach travel companies are also contacted
through direct mailings and telemarketing.
Tours that come to Abilene travel from places such as San Antonio,
Lubbock, Midland, and the Metroplex, but some have come from as
far away as England.
Abilene officials hope to cash in on Texas' popularity among
tourists. Texas ranks second as a pleasure travel destination
among United States residents, and is a favorite of international
travelers as well. Tourism is the third largest industry in the
state, according to the Texas Department of Commerce Tourism Division.
Bus tours have brought in an estimated $105,000 to Abilene's
economy since Oct. 1, Irby said. June alone provided a $58,000
boost.
Since Oct. 1 (the beginning of the visitors bureau's fiscal
year), 57 tour groups have spent the night in Abilene or have
come specifically to town for the day. Officials believe the number
of tours this fiscal year will beat the 1995-96 total of 63.
October was the second most popular month with nine tours.
Irby said perhaps October is popular for tours because the weather
is cooler.
"We are trying to make some of the other months big,"
Irby said. "We are pushing the Western Heritage Classic in
May."
One of the downtown businesses to benefit from tourism is Under
One Roof.
"There have been more tour buses this year down here than
there were last year," said Betty Proctor, co-owner of the
mini-mall. "The tour buses have helped business."
McLemore-Bass, a downtown eatery, has also seen a rise in business.
"We've been getting lots of customers from the information
center (bureau)," said Amy Hallmark, manager.
The Grace Cultural Center is also getting more tourism traffic,
according to Jill Forehand, facility coordinator.
"It (tourism) has gotten heavier and heavier over the
last year or two," Forehand said.
Not all the tours are aware of Abilene attractions because
they don't arrange their trips through the bureau. So Irby calls
to encourage them to tour the city.
"When they just spend the night I call them and try to
coerce them into coming into town a little earlier or staying
a little later the next morning and doing a little sightseeing,"
Irby said.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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