Minden is fast becoming recognized as a travel destination and point of interest for groups and individuals, and a growing number of regional and national publications featuring stories on the city is the proof in the pudding.
Lynn Dorsey, director of the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Commission, told members of the commission’s board of directors Tuesday the city was featured in 12 national and regional publications during the months of November and December.
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“This is the first time we have been in this number of publications,” Dorsey said. “It had a lot to do with the Holiday Trail of Lights, and our focus is going to be to get more tour groups coming.”
Mentioning Minden in articles were National Geographic Traveler Magazine, North American Tour Magazine, AAA Southern Traveler Magazine, In Magazine, The Houston Chronicle, Louisiana Kitchen and Culture, The Forum, Louisiana Road Trips, Louisiana Life, Travel Host and the Shreveport Times.
Dorsey said the bureau hosted a Holiday Trail of Lights media familiarization tour during the Fasching Festival in November, and another familiarization event for tour operators in December.
“The tour planners got to see first-hand what cities on the Holiday Trail of Lights had to offer,” she told the board members. “Most of their tours have been booked for 2015, so we may not see them this year but they assured us that Webster Parish will be added to their tours in the future.”
Another familiarization tour, “Faces of Fame, Film and Fable,” is targeting the area January 15-17, Dorsey said.
“It’s as if they designed their tour around our brochure,” she said.
Dorsey said destinations include only Shreveport, Minden and Monroe/West Monroe and designed for tour operators from New York, Arizona, Maryland and California, among others.