By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Great Bend and Barton County have several area outdoor attractions. Getting out-of-state tourists to know about them is another story. That's why four area representatives recently attended the 75th Omaha International Boat Sports & Travel Show in Nebraska from Feb. 23-26. Great Bend Convention & Visitors Bureau Director Christina Hayes said the show is always a success, with up to 20,000 potential tourists attending each year.
"The Omaha Travel Show is one of Great Bend's best shows of the year," she said. "What's crazy is Omaha people are really interested in an affordable family weekend getaway from the city. They really like the idea of coming to the wetlands. A lot of them recognize our drag strip, and they are sold easily on our zoo right next to our waterpark. We sell it, really, as a getaway from the city package."
Hayes attended the show with fellow employee Amanda Gaddis, KWEC Senior Administrative Assistant Dayona Nett, and retired KWEC employee Linda Penner, who was recently named the CVB's 2022 Frontline Employee of the Year. The group spoke directly with nearly 2,400 show visitors to promote the Great Bend area.
"Part of our goal for the CVB is to make sure we're reaching outside of the state to be able to promote and encourage tourism," Hayes said. "We really want out-of-state dollars to come to Great Bend. Kansas Tourism has already proven we have plenty of outside dollars coming to our state. Great Bend is just trying to make sure we're staying in the game and getting a piece of that pie."
Hayes said KWEC staff is included in the trip because birding is key to the Cheyenne Bottoms area. The local group entices potential tourists with a game that keeps them at the booth for five minutes.