TOURISM DOLLARS ARE A BIG BOOST FOR CAPE REGION

If you get behind a slow-moving tour bus, don't complain. Tourists are pumping an incredible amount of dollars into the local, regional and state economies.

Spending by travelers in Missouri increased by a healthy 4 percent last year, in spite of record flooding. Tourism remains the No. 2 revenue-producing industry -- manufacturing is No. 1 -- in Missouri, generating more than $14.1 billion to the state's economy.

Tourism not only brings in dollars, it spurs employment. More than 261,000 jobs in Missouri are generated by the tourism industry. That's 10 percent of all jobs in the state.

Granted Southeast Missouri doesn't have Branson or Lake of the Ozarks. But the region has a number of popular attractions, including the St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, Trail of Tears Park, Burfordville Mill and Covered Bridge, Black Forest, the Glenn House and Oliver House, River Heritage Museum and of course the Mississippi River. More than 100 tour groups visited the city in each of the last two years. Those numbers may also be impacted by a Rush Limbaugh hometown bus tour on the drawing board.

In the 12-county Southeast Missouri area -- which includes Cape Girardeau, Perry, and Scott counties -- tourism generates more than $1.4 billion to the economy.

Cape Girardeau's position as a retail and entertainment center is also a big draw for statewide conventions. The city added a number of motel rooms the past year, with additional facilities under construction.

In Cape Girardeau County, travelers spent more than $36.5 million, directly generating 877 jobs and $10.5 million in wages and salaries, according to a recent study conducted by the Missouri Division of Tourism.

No doubt those numbers will be greatly impacted when Boyd Gaming opens its planned riverboat casino in downtown Cape Girardeau. A November opening is targeted. The Boyds plan to visit Cape Girardeau next week to further negotiate their contract with city officials. Once details are finalized, construction should begin. The Boyd company has estimated the paddle-wheel riverboat will attract 840,000 visitors the first year.

Boyd Gaming has started construction on a Kansas City casino, and has applied for a state license. Observers feel that if investigations are completed and the license is granted in Kansas City, a license for Cape Girardeau would move much more quickly.

With an influx of visitors expected to town, Cape Girardeau and the region should consider construction of additional signage to promote existing tourist attractions. As the old saying goes: If you got it, flaunt it.

That is the secret of tourism. It isn't just having great attractions, it is knowing how to market them. Missouri, and the region, are working to improve both.