By DELANIA TRIGG, Register Staff Writer
A local group is hoping their combined efforts help promote tourism in the Red River Valley region.
The Red River Valley Tourism Association is a cooperative organization designed to promote areas of southern Oklahoma and northern Texas to tourists, Nocona Economic Development Corporation executive director James Yohe said.
Yohe and association members from other regions were at the Gainesville Civic Center for the organization’s annual meeting Wednesday.
The event included a catered lunch, electronic data presentations about local attractions such as the Frank Buck Zoo, recognition of new officers and a ride in Gainesville’s trolley.
“The reason this is important is that it is a cooperative effort of the counties that border the state lines of Texas and Oklahoma,” said Main Street Manager Lynette Pettigrew.
Yohe agreed the arrangement has advantages.
“We are unique in that we are, as far as I can determine, the only organization that promotes both Texas and Oklahoma,” Yohe said.
The association said the Red River Valley region has a lot to offer, and they, along with other community leaders would like to promote their cities and attractions.
One of the ways they accomplish this is through advertising efforts. The tourism association allows members to pool their resources.
“We cooperatively market our communities through this organization,” Pettigrew. “We go to tourism shows, we run ads in publications. By combining our efforts we are able to purchase ads in some of the larger publications such as “Southern Living,”’ she said.
The organization also appears to be growing.
The association has members from Paris to Vernon on both sides of the state line, Yohe said.
Representatives from cities including Ardmore, Okla., Duncan, Okla., and Henrietta attended Monday’s event.
The Texoma Council of Governments established the organization about 20 years ago, said Sammie Hatfield, Henrietta director of economic development and incoming president for the association.
Both Pettigrew and Yohe said tourism is an important part of any small community.
“Tourism is an extremely valuable asset for rural communities. It provides economic development and introduces small communities to tourists,” Yohe said.
Placing an exact dollar figure on the economic boost provided by tourism requires a formula, Pettigrew said.
For that, some cities turn to sales tax figures.
Every individual who stops in Gainesville influences the numbers, she said.
“If people stop off for gas or to spend the night they are spending their dollars in Gainesville and that’s important,” Pettigrew said.
She also said hosting the organization’s annual meeting was a good move.
“I wanted us (Gainesville) to host the meeting. I want to be able to show people all the things we have to offer, to let others see that we have a great zoo, for example,” she said.
Another way the organization hopes to draw visitors to its member communities is by placing information in front of potential tourists.
“A lot of hotel owners allow me to put information about the trolley and the Depot Day event in their hotel rooms,” Pettigrew noted.
Members also reach out to prospective tourists in other ways.
For example, Pettigrew said the association voted to send a representative to this years’ State Fair of Texas.
“We’ll have our own section and all our brochures and information will be available at the state fair,” she said.
