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Posted by Wynn Ponder
Rural Kansas pulls off some amazing events; Symphony in the Flint Hills, The Hot Wheels Event in Speed, Svensk Hyllningsfest in Lindsborg, the list goes on and on. But not everyone knows the ins and outs of event planning, so let’s see if we can get the experts talking:
- What’s the biggest or best event your community, county or region has ever organized?
- How many people worked on it?
- How did get your arms around it?
- What obstacles did you face, and how did you overcome them?
- What will you do differently next time?
Please comment to this post with your answers. Or if there’s an event in your future, and you have questions, feel free to post those as comments.
posted by Roger Hrabe
Ask any Kansan to name the five largest industries in Kansas and what do you think they would name? The most likely answers are going to be agriculture, aviation, meat packing, oil or natural gas, and maybe something like technology or food products. Most Kansans are going to miss the third largest industry in the state: tourism.
The travel and tourism industry in Kansas annually generates around $3.7 billion in expenditures, $515 million in federal, state and local taxes, and accounted for 57,000 travel related jobs according to the year 2000 figures from the Travel Industry Association of America. This ranks Kansas 38th in the country in direct domestic travel expenditures.
Ranking 38th out of 50 states may not seem very impressive, but considering that Kansas ranks dead last in the nation in the size of its annual tourism advertising budget, it would appear that we are getting a good bang for our buck. The State of Kansas has an annual tourism advertising budget of around $300,000 a year. Compare that figure with Missouri, which has a $10 million annual budget, or Oklahoma with a $3.5 million budget.
Why is there a lack of focus in Kansas on tourism? Generally, Kansans tend to have a low self-esteem when it comes to tourism activities in their state. Since we don’t have mountains, Disneyland, or the ocean, what in the world would anyone want to see here?
The same people who pose that question could answer it themselves by looking at the reasons why they live here. The very things that we value so much about life in Kansas—our rich history, quality of life, big skies, endless vistas, friendly people—are things that people from other states value also. And the good thing is that many of them are willing to pay for an authentic experience that, to you and I, may seem like just an everyday part of our lives.
State surveys have revealed that the most popular activities for visitors are: touring pioneer and frontier history sites, visiting cowboy and Old West attractions, visiting art and cultural attractions, and participating in outdoor activities. Each of these activities are things that all parts of our state has to offer. In addition, since 9/11, people are staying closer to home, taking more car trips, and looking for small town experiences. Kansas has an aura of safety that positions it well for taking advantage of these trends.
Some people around the state have recognized the importance of tourism for many years. One of those people is Marci Penner, director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Marci has been a champion of rural Kansas for many years. Her enthusiasm and ideas for helping rural communities survive was evidenced this last weekend in Independence with the annual Kansas Sampler Festival.
The Sampler Festival allows exhibitors from all over the state to showcase the many travel opportunities available in communities across the state. The festival included live demonstrations, historic re-enactors, authentic cuisine, and Kansas-made products. It is estimated that over 7,000 people attended the two day event. To be held in Newton the next two years, the event is sure to grow and has become a model for other states on how to showcase tourism in their own state.
Another group that is an example of what can be accomplished by a small number of people through hard work and a vision is the Osborne County Tourism group. Their accomplishments so far are too numerous to mention, but suffice it to say that they are positioning themselves well to appeal to visitors who have a desire to experience history in Osborne County. For Osborne County, tourism is not the answer to reviving a deteriorating economy, but it is certainly one piece of the puzzle.
With the week of May 10-18 being proclaimed Kansas Tourism Week by Governor Kathleen Sebelius, it is a good time to consider how we can better take advantage of the opportunity that has been presented to us. There are literally hundreds of ways that individuals or communities can create unique experiences that someone is willing to pay good money to see or do. The only limitations are those that we place upon ourselves.
A person told me the other day, “All economic development starts as tourism. People who are looking at your community as a place to live and grow their business start by looking at the community just as a tourist would. They see what the community looks like and what it has to offer. If they like what they see, they may be willing to make it their home.”
It is time for Kansans to look at their state for what it is: a great place to call home and a great place to visit. Quit apologizing for it and start promoting it.
Roger Hrabe
Director, Rooks County Economic Development
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