ATTRACTING TOURISTS: BOOM IN TOURISM INDUSTRY PROJECTED TO CONTINUE IN NEXT CENTURY

Tourism is a growth industry and is the second largest industry in Missouri and the future looks like more of the same for the industry.

The industry contributed more than $16 billion to Missouri's economy in 1995 and there are no signs of a slow-down soon.

Public relations manager of the state Division of Tourism, Steve Kappler, said that by the turn of the century, tourism will be the largest industry in the world.

And in Missouri all indications are that the industry will continue to grow, generating jobs and increasing tax revenues.

Kappler said that the future growth will force marketers to market more creatively and more target marketing will be done, because of increased competition.

In Cape Girardeau County, tourism is expected to grow and cooperation between other neighboring communities will be a big factor in that growth, according to director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau Mary Miller.

"We've been extremely fortunate to put a lot back into our community with tourism dollars," Miller said.

She added that tourism tax has paid back the bond that paved the way for the Show Me Center.

Two other projects are expected to keep tourism growing in the county.

The Osage Park Community Center and the Shawnee Park Sports Complex are two tourist attractions that are expected to increase the number of visitors to this area.

"The sports market is a good market to get into right now. The sports complex is a win-win situation," Miller said.

Miller also said that the Mississippi River Trail that runs through seven states will bring in more tourism dollars to Cape and other communities and it gives the town some national exposure since the trail runs from Ste. Genevieve to New Orleans.

The state of Missouri Division of Tourism is focusing on Missouri's natural beauty and sees the ecotourists as key tourists of the future, according to Kappler.

The state is working to preserve the environment to keep these tourists.

"There will also be more emphasis on value. The short getaway type of vacation will be popular and we will focus on people that live close to Missouri," Kappler said.

Miller also said that the Trail of Tears State Park will continue to improve bringing in more and more tourists to the area.

In 1995, St. Louis, Kansas City and the Ozark Mountain region account for two-thirds of the tourism dollar spent in the state, but the River Heritage Region (Southeast Missouri) is one of four regions that grew at a higher rate than the state average.

The other three regions were Kansas City, Northwest Missouri (Pony Express) and South-Central Missouri (Ozark Heritage).

"Tourism is just going to get bigger and bigger. The 21st Century is going to be wild," according to Kappler.