Monday, July 02, 2007
Governor Culver Announces Increased Tourism Funding
New Dollars to Extend Welcome Center Hours
(Des Moines) – Today, Governor Chet culver announced that, for the first time, the four Interstate Iowa Welcome Centers will be open extended hours, thanks to additional funding appropriated to the Iowa Tourism Office by the 2007 Legislative Session.
The four state-owned Welcome Centers – located north of Davis City on I-35, south of Sioux City on I-29, northeast of Underwood on I-80 eastbound and west of Wilton on I-80 westbound – are now open year-round from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (with the exception of certain holidays). Each center now employs two full-time state-certified Travel Counselors. Any Iowa event, attraction, lodging property or community may display their brochures at no charge in any of the state-operated Welcome Centers.
“Our Welcome Centers are an incredible resource for people traveling throughout Iowa,” said Governor Chet Culver. “Certified travel counselors at each center can assist with directions, suggest additional destinations and answer travel-related questions. They are front-line ambassadors for our state, and now with extended hours, more people will be able to use their services.”
Iowa’s Welcome Center system includes four state-operated Interstate centers and 16 privately-owned partnership locations.
The Interstate Welcome Centers are a partnership between the Iowa Department of Economic Development and the Iowa Department of Transportation. Each center has a unique theme and incorporates work from Iowa artists into its design, such as the Lewis & Clark theme in the Sergeant Bluff location.
In 2006, more than 200,000 travel parties visited an Iowa Welcome Center. The summer travel months of June, July and August accounted for 41 percent of the total visits.
Tourism is a $5.4 billion industry in Iowa, employing more than 62,300 people statewide and generating more than $280 million in state taxes. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. For more information about Iowa attractions and events, visit www.traveliowa.com, call 800.345.IOWA or stop at any Iowa Welcome Center.