Region's attractions highlighted at vacation, travel, outdoor shows

Southernmost Illinois was represented at outdoor shows in January: the Let's Go Fishing show at the Gateway Center in Collinsville, the St. Louis RV, Vacation and Travel Show and the Southern Illinois Boat & Fishing Show in Marion.  

The Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau, SITB, had a display booth set up at those shows, as well as at the Chicago Area Travel & Adventure Show Jan. 28-29,  to promote the Shawnee National Forest, the area's wine trails,  scenic drives,  secluded getaways, and the many things to do and places to visit in Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski and Union. 

The shows were termed a great success. Nearly 17,000 people attended the show in St. Louis and looked for family activities.

The Collinsville show attracted about 7,000 people who were looking to plan outdoor activities.

More than 17,000 people attended the Chicago show; over half of those who attended the event said they spend at least $2,000 a year on travel.

SITB sales manager Carol Hoffman, Andrea Dahmer from the Davie School Inn in Anna and Mary Jo Smith from the Hidden Lake Bed & Breakfast in Jonesboro hosted the Southernmost Illinois exhibit booth.

They greeted those attending the show and talked with them about visiting Southernmost Illinois.

“There was a tremendous interest in our area and the visitor guides and other brochures were very well received," Hoffman said.

The new 2012 Southernmost Illinois Visitor Guide, Shawnee National Forest maps, wine trail guides, information about Metropolis and brochures about many other attractions were distributed.

Many of those who attended the shows signed up for a drawing to win Wine Bucks.

Several group travel leaders also expressed interest in planning tours to the area.

The next promotion is scheduled to be at the Great Outdoors Show in Cape Girardeau Feb. 24-26.