FSACC committee strives to cultivate tourism as an industry

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce's Tourism Committee meets monthly to support activities and events designed to bring tourists to our town. Each meeting includes brainstorming to come up with ways to encourage out-of-towners to come and take a look at Fort Scott.

Sometimes the committee itself puts on an event such as Tony Roi, the Elvis Experience. At other times, the committee seeks to do what it can to assist with the promotion of an independent festival that is run by a separate steering committee of its own, such as the Good Ol' Days.

The Tourism Committee believes in the philosophy that it takes everyone to promote Fort Scott. Helping each other reach a common goal is the benefit of small-town living.

As a result, we do have many people discovering Fort Scott as they come to town to participate in various events throughout the year. Who knows when, as a result of one of those trips, someone will decide to relocate to this community?

March will bring visitors to the March Into Spring Home, Farm & Garden Show, which is currently accepting booth applications and scheduling entertainment. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 17 and noon to 5 p.m. March 18 at the Fort Scott Community College Arnold Arena. Members of the Tourism Committee have assisted PRIDE, The Fort Scott Tribune, Fort Scott Community College, and the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Division with planning this event, and members of each group will be there to greet visitors during the weekend.

June will bring Fort Scott's 26th annual Good Ol' Days to the downtown area. The Tourism Committee is currently recruiting contestants and will conduct a Kiss the Pig contest at this year's festival.

Next on the summer calendar will be the Secret Garden Tour put on by the Bourbon County Master Gardeners. Again, members of the Tourism Committee will devote time and effort to spreading the word about this charming event.

Throughout the year, tourists will be encouraged to come to Fort Scott to take part in other established events such as Pioneer Harvest Fiesta in the fall and the Historic Preservation Association's Homes for the Holidays Tour the first weekend in December. Members of the Tourism Committee will work along side the organizers of both of these festivals to help ensure the success of the celebrations.

The committee itself has been involved in implementing the October Ghost Tours and Dolly Holiday Tours. The trolley riders on each of these tours have seen Fort Scott in very different lights.

Often, people ask about the results of these tourism-based ventures. A look at the Good Ol' Days statistics shows that the 8,500 visitors to the 2006 festival indicated they included people from 38 different states and 20 foreign countries.

Fort Scott National Historic Site, which presents tourist-friendly activities throughout the year, records the number of visitors at each event and at the fort, itself. These are presented to the Tourism Committee at each meeting.

The Chamber Visitor Center also keeps tabs on the number of visitors to the Center and on the Dolly the Trolley riders. Each month the Tourism Committee reviews the resulting figures.

The goal of the Tourism Committee is to help open our community to visitors so that we have an opportunity to share the good life in Fort Scott.

Anyone with ideas or suggestions is welcome to call the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566.