Tourism

Birdwatching continues to be popular

From the Associated Press as featured in USA TODAY:

One in every five Americans watches birds, according to a new report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service called “Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis.” The report claims that 48 million people birdwatch, remaining at a steady 20% of the U.S. population since 1996. By region, the report found that birdwatching was most popular in the South, with an estimated 33% of the population taking part in the activity. The report is an addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. The survey is the eleventh in a series of surveys conducted about every five years that began in 1955. The survey is conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in partnership with state wildlife agencies and national conservation organizations.

For the complete U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report see http://library.fws.gov/Pubs/birding_natsurvey06.pdf

Outdoor Alabama Expo is this Saturday at Oak Mountain State Park

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will hold the 2009 Outdoor Alabama Expo at Oak Mountain State Park in Birmingham on Saturday, May 2. The event will be held from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and offers the public a chance to experience the natural wonders of Alabama in the state’s largest state park. Admission is free. State tourism staff member Grey Brennan will be at the Expo promoting outdoor tourism activities across the state. Brennan served as coordinator for the “Year of Outdoor Alabama” state tourism marketing campaign.

Expo participants will enjoy outdoor recreation and learn about conservation through a variety of exhibits, presentations and hands-on activities. Experts will help introduce Expo visitors to activities such as birding, fishing, boating safety, shooting sports, rock climbing and wildlife watching. Other Expo activities include: archery, a fish touch-tank containing live fish and other aquatic species from the Gulf, a birds of prey and snakes of Alabama presentation, a guided nature walk and boating safety activities, musical entertainment, and a helicopter water rescue demonstration. In addition to ADCNR activities there will be informational booths and demonstrations from other conservation organizations as well as booths from various food and retail vendors.

“The Expo provides a unique opportunity for the public to experience Alabama’s natural resources in a festival-like atmosphere,” said Barnett Lawley, ADCNR Commissioner. “The event is free and open to the public so we invite everyone to come be a part of it.” The Oak Mountain Interpretive Center will also hold its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony as a part of this year’s Expo. The center houses a 45-seat auditorium and 2,500 sq. ft. of interactive exhibit space where visitors can learn about the park’s ecology and wildlife.

For more information see http://www.outdooralabama.com/news/release.cfm?ID=689

Alabama hosts cultural exchange with Pietrasanta, Italy

A group of Italian sculptors, dancers, artisans and musicians have been in the state for the past week participating in a variety of activities as part of the Alabama State Council on the Arts cultural exchange program with Pietrasanta, Italy. Pietrasanta is a coastal city located in the Tuscany region and is known as a center for sculpture production in Italy. Michelangelo is among the numerous artists who have lived and worked in the city.
Members of the Pietrasanta delegation have toured marble production facilities in Sylacauga, participated in Birmingham’s Magic City Arts Connection festival, and performed with the Montgomery Ballet. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange and Pietrasanta’s Mayor Massimo Mallengni assured continuation of the cultural exchange with the signing of a Sister City Agreement at the Rosa Parks Museum in downtown Montgomery on Wednesday. Governor Bob Riley also presented the Pietrasanta officials with a proclamation at the state capitol. For more information see the Alabama State Council on the Arts website at http://www.arts.state.al.us/news/index-news.html

The cultural exchange program began last year when Alabama State Council on the Arts executive director Al Head, members of the arts council and a group of state artists traveled to Pietrasanta. The Alabama Tourism Department’s “Year of Alabama Arts” promotion was used as the theme for the visit. For more on the Alabama delegation’s visit to Pietrasanta see the First Draft magazine cover-story “Alabama Shares its Year of the Arts with Tuscany.” http://www.writersforum.org/pdfs/FirstDraft/fall08.pdf

Alabama Tourism up 3 percent in 2008

Alabama’s tourism and travel industry grew by three percent in 2008, according to a report released today by Governor Bob Riley. The report shows more than 22 million people visited Alabama last year and spent nearly $9.6 billion in the state. Those visitors also paid $702 million in state and local lodging and sales taxes.

The top five counties with the largest travel-related expenditures are: Baldwin County with almost $2.3 billion in travel-related spending, Jefferson County was second with more than $1.5 billion, Madison County was third at $991 million, Mobile County ranked fourth with more than $944 million and Montgomery County was fifth with nearly $558 million. These counties were also the most visited in the state in 2008 and account for 63 percent of the total number of visitors.

“Alabama has always been a family-friendly destination and that has helped us attract a growing number of visitors. Whether its families looking for an affordable vacation or convention planners seeking a good deal, Alabama continues to be a value destination,” said Governor Riley. “The numbers for 2008 bring good economic news for Alabama. The dollars spent on tourism create jobs, grow local economies and generate needed tax revenues.”

“The three percent increase in 2008 is good news, especially coming off a banner year in 2007 in which we saw a 10 percent increase. Over the 10 year period from 1998 to 2008, travel spending in Alabama has increased 77 percent,” said State Tourism Director Lee Sentell. The industries most impacted by tourism spending include lodging, restaurants, general retail, entertainment, public transportation and auto transportation. The largest single travel expenditure was on food and drinks which accounted for 27 percent of all travel and tourism spending in the state. Public transportation was the next largest expenditure accounting for 26 percent, followed by auto transportation at 15 percent, lodging at 13 percent, entertainment and general retail each accounted for 10 percent of travel expenditures.

For a county-by-county breakdown of travel-related expenditures and employment figures see the complete 2008 Economic Impact Report at http://www.alabama.travel/media-room/report2008/

Smithsonian’s New Harmonies Exhibit

A large exhibit about American Roots music is now touring Alabama. Currently in Tuscumbia, it will travel to Fort Payne, Tuskegee, Troy, Chatom and Livingston before the end of the year. Traveling with the major display from the Smithsonian is a display on Alabama roots music, funded by the Alabama Humanities Foundation. The sites are also preparing programs and exhibits about their community’s music traditions. For information about locations and dates, visit www.alabamafolklife.org.