TOURISM PROVES PROFITABLE FOR CAPE GIRARDEAU AND THE REGION

Tourism has been a shot in the arm for Cape Girardeau in the last few years but the city saw a decline in tourism dollars in the last few months of 1995.

Mary Miller, the director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau said she doesn't expect the decline to continue. In fact, she said the last few months haven't been a "technical" decline. She said the city simply hasn't experience the same amount of growth in the area of tourism it has had in the last few years. "We're still doing quite well," she said.

The reason for the decline most likely is cyclical and probably temporary, she said. Everyone seems to be in a pinch since tourism dollars are down and Christmas sales were off last year, she said.

Because the money collected at the city's hotels in the form of a 3 and a half percent sales tax was down in the last few months in Cape Girardeau, the city was aware of the slower growth.

But events like the Balloons & Arts Festival, Midwest Forest Industry Show, Riverfest, SEMO District Fair, Show Me Crafts Extravaganza, and the Tour de Girardot Cycling Classic bring people into the area that spend money at hotels, restaurants and other retail shops -- money that normally wouldn't be seen in Cape Girardeau's economy.

And thanks to those events, Miller said she isn't worried about a decline in tourism in Cape Girardeau. "We will continue to do well," Miller said.

About 400,000 people are expected to tour events in Cape Girardeau this year, she said. Those people not only will be tourists but also people attending conventions and other meetings.

"Baby boomers have the most disposable incomes," Miller said, "and they are traveling, trying to find a place where they can retire. They're tired of the city because they've worked most of their lives, and they're tied of the traffic. They are trying to get in touch with their roots. And some of them are coming to Cape Girardeau not only as tourists but as residents."

Part of the CVB's goals for 1996 include promoting Cape Girardeau on the airwaves, enticing motorists to stop, eat and look around at what the City of Roses has to offer. By the end of the year, a low-watt radio station broadcasting on AM 1610 could be telling listeners about exciting attractions and upcoming events.

The CVB's efforts toward tourists already planning to stop in Cape Girardeau have no choice but to intensify this year because of increased stops.

Paddlewheelers like the American Queen made eight stops in Cape Girardeau last year. This year, the boats are expected to dock at least 15 times. Miller credits the town's reception of passengers for the increased stops expected this year.

A small band plays, a committee greets and information is offered when people get off the paddlewheelers at Cape Girardeau.

Miller said she took a similar cruise last month and no other town offered that type of reception.

In addition to the paddlewheelers docking at Riverfront Park, about 125 motorcoaches will pass through Cape Girardeau as part of an organized tour.

Miller said she has met people who have seen Cape Girardeau from a motorcoach and decided to call the City of Roses home. "And why not? This is a great place to live," she said.