TOURISM THRIVING IN CAPE THIS WEEK

The summer vacation season is past, but tourism is thriving this week in Cape Girardeau.

About 100 people are here for a statewide tourism educational retreat. The three-day event, sponsored by the Missouri Travel Council and the Missouri Division of Tourism, began Sunday.

The meeting gives Cape Girardeau the opportunity to exhibit its conference space and area attractions, said Mary Miller, director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

With travel as the focus, the conference is held at a different city each year. Cape Girardeau won the bid for this year's conference.

The event also gives people the opportunity to learn about the Division of Tourism, said Pat Amick, executive director of the Missouri Travel Council.

The conference theme is "Meeting the Challenge of Change."

One of the biggest challenges is to increase the value of tourism and attractions to the state's economy, Amick said.

Another challenge is to create positive feelings from negative situations, she said.

Mary Fisher, an "entertrainer" and comedienne from Kansas City will speak today about meeting that challenge.

Despite rapid changes in the travel and tourism industry, Missouri remains a popular travel destination.

There are attractions for every member of the family, said Gail Myer, first vice president of the Missouri Travel Council.

"It's a diverse place to come, and there are a gamut of things to do on a vacation that involve tourism," he said.

Tourism is the second largest industry in the state of Missouri. There was a 9 percent increase in the industry last year.

"Missouri is conducive to tourists and travelers and they spend more money here," said Richard Hain, acting director of the Missouri Division of Tourism. "It's a family destination."

Some of Missouri's biggest attractions are the country music entertainers in Branson, the outlet malls at the Lake of the Ozarks and the state's metropolitan areas.