America's Byways®Inside this Issue
WHAT'S NEW
Minnesota Scenic Byways Survey Yields Positive Results
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's Analysis and Evaluation Office conducted an online survey to evaluate a direct mail marketing campaign carried out by Explore Minnesota Tourism in spring, 2004 to promote the State's scenic byways. A sample of consumers who responded to the direct mail promotion were surveyed, with a total of 376 completed surveys (15% of sample took the online survey).
Overall, the results provided very positive feedback for Minnesota's scenic byways program. Most survey respondents recalled receiving the promotional byways material published by Explore Minnesota Tourism, and two-thirds of the respondents took a scenic byways trip that was influenced by this information. More than one-third took two or more trips that were influenced by this promotion. For more information, contact Colleen Tollefson at colleen.tollefson@state.mn.us or 651-297-2635.
New Mexico, Colorado and Wisconsin have also collected data on economic impact and traveler usage. If you have any research data on your Byway, please email Patricia at pmcnally@byways.org.
America's Byways: "Your passport to riding adventure"
Red Rider, Honda motorcycle's official publication of the Honda Rider's Club of America, featured a colorful 13-page article on All-American Roads in the March/April issue. This is Part 1 of a series that included the San Juan Skyway and Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow Road, Colorado; The Seward Highway, Alaska; Big Sur Coast Highway, Route 1, California; Beartooth Highway, Montana and Wyoming; Chinook Scenic Byway, Washington; Creole Nature Trail, Louisiana; North Shore Scenic Drive, Minnesota; The Historic National Road, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia; and the Las Vegas Strip, Nevada. The magazine is sent out to over 300,000 members. Readers were told to "aim their browsers" at www.byways.org for more information.
Ohio River Scenic Byway Featured
The Ohio River Scenic Byway was featured in the March/April AAA Midwest Traveler magazine. Writer Ruth Chin's "River Route" article asked you to "Follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the Ohio River Scenic Byway through Indiana to discover a slice of Americana." Photos and website information for www.ohioriverscenicroute.org and www.byways.org were included.
GREAT IDEA
The Arizona Byways unofficial "cheerleader" and ADOT Scenic Byways Coordinator, Kathie Knapp, spoke to a standing-room-only crowd at the Go West Summit! — the premier business-oriented, regional travel tradeshow selling the American West. Her presentation, "Scenic Byways for Fly/Drive Travelers: Connecting the Dots Between Gateway Cities", highlighted America's Byways, State Scenic & Historic Roads, and Backcountry Byways found in the 13 States represented at the Summit. Information on the National Scenic Byways Program, sample itineraries, and a list of the State Byways Coordinators with their contact information was provided as handouts and emailed to all registrants.
The Summit brings together the world's top Tour Operators (both international and domestic) with specialty Suppliers who offer year-round products in the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. In attendance were representatives from Brazil, Germany, Sweden, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Kingdom and the American Consulate General to Hong Kong. For more information visit www.gowestsummit.com.
ON THE WEB
As spring and the travel season approach, the program website team is getting ready for plenty of visitors, dusting off and freshening up www.byways.org. Help them bring the Press Room section out of the winter doldrums by sending your story ideas and interesting byway facts about "Outdoor Recreation for Health" and "Heritage and Culture" to dba@byways.org. And, as always, be sure to pass along any quirky tales and tidbits about your byways.
NEWS BRIEFS
Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway Committee Recognized
The Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway Committee was recognized with a Governor's Travel and Tourism award at the North Dakota Tourism Conference on February 28, 2005. The award credited the Committee in the category "leader in the public or non-profit tourism industry." The Byway is credited with aiding local economic development. Since the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway's 2002 designation, four new businesses have opened and there has been an increase in the amount of lodging taxes collected.
Tourism Person Of The Year
"A guiding light", a person with a "rare and appealing characteristic in her willingness to tackle any project in which she believes. Her commitment is a source of continual encouragement to all who work with her." The nomination submission used these words to describe Tourism Person of the Year award winner Ruth Hawkins of Arkansas. Her colleagues portray her as the "driving force behind Arkansas's two national scenic byways." Ruth spearheaded a monumental effort that created Crowley's Ridge National Scenic Parkway, and developed a strategy to gather information from the 10 Great River Road counties for inclusion in the Corridor Management Plan. She is an active participant in the Mississippi River Parkway Commission of Arkansas and has acted as technical advisor on many projects. These efforts have proven instrumental in improving the tourism product for eastern Arkansas, which has contributed substantially to the economic development of the region. The National Scenic Byways Program team salutes Ruth's efforts and agrees wholeheartedly with the Arkansas tourism industry that she is a "special person."
U.S. Forest Service Spirit Award
Congratulations to Bill Miller, President of the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway Association, Inc. He was awarded the National Rural Community Assistance Spirit Award from the U.S. Forest Service. The National Rural Community Assistance (RCA) Awards highlight relationships and accomplishments of local action groups. The formation of the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway began with a vision from Bill to partner with the Forest Service. The Byway mission statement is "To provide the visitor with a safe and enjoyable experience and promote economic development while enhancing, protecting, and preserving the resources of the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway." Bill received a $5,000 monetary reward on behalf of the Byways to be used in the maintenance, operation and program development at the Welcome Center in Cedaredge, Colorado.
Final Stretch of Natchez Trace Parkway Opens to Visitors
This spring, 67 years after construction of the Natchez Trace Parkway, All-American Road began; the final 20+ miles of the Parkway will be open to visitors. On Saturday, May 21, 2005, the National Park Service, Federal Highway Administration, and Federal, State, and local officials will celebrate the completion of construction for the last two segments of the 444-mile Parkway that travels from Natchez, Mississippi through the northwest corner of Alabama to Nashville, Tennessee. The last two segments to be finished are located in the Jackson and Natchez, Mississippi areas. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by Natchez Trace Parkway Superintendent Wendell Simpson in Natchez, Mississippi, will feature Senators Thad Cochran and Trent Lott as keynote speakers. For more information, contact Jerry Pendleton at 662-680-4054 or Jerry_Pendleton@nps.gov.
The Transportation Bill Passes The House
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved H.R. 3, The Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users, a six-year bill that provides $284 billion for the Federal highway, transit and highway safety programs. H.R. 3 was passed 417-9. Chairman Young said, "The increased funding levels in H.R. 3 are supported by the Administration." The Bill reports Scenic Byways funding at $30, $40, $45, $55, $55 and $60 million for Fiscal Years 2004-2009. "I'm glad to see such overwhelming support for our bill today in the House," Subcommittee Chairman Petri said. "Now we need the Senate to move quickly so that we can get to conference to produce a long term program in support of our nation's vital infrastructure." For more information, see www.house.gov/tranportation/.
OPPORTUNITIES
The Japan office of the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) is compiling a list of U.S. destinations and travel companies that have websites in Japanese. This list will be distributed to Japanese press and operators who are interested in promoting U.S. travel. If your organization has a website with Japanese characters, please email the following information to Rie Uchijima, Manager of International Marketing Travel Industry Association of America, at RUchijima@tia.org:
- Name of organization
- Website
- Your email address
Extra! Extra!
Great Outdoors Month, June 2005
"Get active. Get outdoors." FHWA participates in the 2005 Great Outdoors Month. Organizations that promote recreation, health, and outdoor activities are encouraged to join in. For more info, go to greatoutdoorsmonth.org. Byways with events in June are asked to send info to Patricia at pmcnally@byways.org.
March/April Topic:
"The Traveler"
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