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By Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell
Imagine yourself driving on the open roads of Missouri on a new motorcycle, wind whipping against your face as you pass by the brightly colored trees that decorate the fall landscape. Next, picture you and your family enjoying one of Missouri's fantastic vacation destinations when the air is crisp and the pumpkins are ripe. Both of these images could become your reality this fall through the Missouri Department of Tourism's "Freewheelin' Fall Getaway" promotion.
State Senator Jim Mathewson and I had the honor of launching this latest promotion encouraging travel within Missouri on the first day of the 100th Anniversary of the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. This new fall promotion is designed to encourage folks to get out and discover the natural beauty of our state and experience great Missouri events and attractions.
Participants in this contest can sign up to win one of five great Missouri vacation packages or a brand new 100th Anniversary Special Edition Harley-Davidson Road King motorcycle. Few things provoke such strong images of the joy of traveling as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, with these motorcycles not only serving as a symbol of the spirit of adventure inherent in traveling, but also having the distinction of being a Missouri-made product.
Regardless of how you choose to travel, Missouri offers fantastic scenic beauty and plenty of great fall events. All registrants in this promotion will receive information about these events through their free Missouri Getaway Guide, featuring information about great fall drives, fall festivals, cultural and musical events, car and motorcycle rallies and other great Missouri adventures.
The "Rediscover Your Missouri" promotional effort launched last October is a primary reason tourism remains strong in our great state. We expect the "Freewheelin' Fall Getaway" promotion to continue to bolster tourism in the Show Me State. Despite the uncertain economic times our country and state have faced our tourism revenues are up one percent versus fiscal year 2001. It is obvious that promoting tourism is vital to the economy and people of our state. More than 250,000 Missourians work in tourism-related jobs and every dollar spent promoting tourism returns $60.36 in revenues for Missouri.
You can help do your part by entering "Missouri's Freewheelin' Fall Getaway" promotion in person throughout the remainder of the Missouri State Fair at the Missouri Division of Tourism booth in the Agriculture Building on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Also, beginning Aug. 16, 2002, you will be able to register online at
www.VisitMO.com or by calling (800) 519-4800. Entries for "Missouri's Freewheelin' Fall Getaway" will be accepted through October 7, 2002, with the winning entries being selected at the Governor's Conference on Tourism in St. Louis on October 16.
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