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Saturday, November 15, 2008 3:00 AM Tourism board hears promotional ideas By Laura Keeter Daily Times Staff Writer Does Wilson need to become more creative and stage events to bring in thousands of people and be promoted via free publicity? Wilson resident Mark Levin thinks so. Levin spoke Thursday to the Wilson County Tourism Development Authority Board and suggested ideas to pump up local tourism. Levin threw out ideas such as bringing in major car shows, seeking to break a Guinness world record by forming the largest human domino chain, or having a Civil War Wiener Contest — as in, who has the best hot-dogs, the North or the South? Levin, who is in the marketing and advertising business, also suggested Wilson could do more with agritourism and promote its cotton heritage. For example, travelers from the interstate could see how cotton is ginned or cut off a sprig of cotton to take home. Downtown Wilson could become a historic cotton district, he said, calling cotton a glamour crop. Levin said he sees how other areas market themselves, and it’s frustrating as a citizen to see Wilson missing opportunities and being more passive and reactive. “Other communities seem to be doing things more energetically,” he said. Levin suggested the city should do more to create activities and events. Bobby Boykin, board chairman, said there’s been an effort to make people think of Wilson as “the Whirligig place.” Cotton is an easier sell, Levin said, because you have to tell people what a whirligig is. Jimmy Patel said he would be interested in seeing more events, “but we (the board) cannot do it,” he added. Tourism could partner with various businesses and organizations to do this, Levin said. He suggested the board endorse the idea and provide seed money to the group that would plan events. The board agreed to hold a round table after Christmas and bring in a tourism official from East Carolina University to further discuss tourism efforts. “It’s certainly good food for thought — to reflect on where we are and where we’re going,” Boykin said. In other business, the board discussed creating a street festival in the spring that could coordinate with the Theater of the American South. Board Member Mary Powell said such an event may draw more people into town and into the Theater of the American South events. Wilson now has one street festival annually held in the early November, the Whirligig Festival. The board also voted to give $9,000 to the Wilson Tobs Baseball Club for a tournament to be held in Wilson in mid-April. The Tobs and Barton College are hosting the 2009 Conference Carolinas Baseball Tournament. keeter@wilsontimes.com | 265-7817 |
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Que Sera said...
As if his Human Domino extravaganza idea wasn't dumb enough? ... A Civil War Wiener Contest? LOL What better way to celebrate Wilson, with Hot Dogs and a war that killed millions!? Well gee I have a better idea. Why dont we just paint a big L (for losers) on our foreheads and walk around Town?
Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 6:43 AM
As if his Human Domino extravaganza idea wasn't dumb enough? ... A Civil War Wiener Contest? LOL What better way to celebrate Wilson, with Hot Dogs and a war that killed millions!? Well gee I have a better idea. Why dont we just paint a big L (for losers) on our foreheads and walk around Town?
Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 6:43 AM
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