A few months ago, we reported seeing flocks of pigs flying across this country as President Obama issued an Executive Order to establish Tourism as a priority for the Commerce Department to pursue.
Along with the sandhill cranes flying over Nebraska last week, I do believe there were some pigs spotted aloft as well. The Governors of three States (Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas) were holed up together in a shack on the Platte River to watch the annual migration of the crane...and talk about how they could cooperate on attracting visitors to their States.
Readers of this screed know how I feel about the partisan politics that has turned serving one's community or State as an elected official from a noble endeavor to a despicable waste of time and talent. And, if these Governors were from the same political party, I wouldn't be quite so impressed.
But...they're not.
A President that was once dismissive of the Tourism Industry that today is one of its champions? Governors from opposing parties and competitive States getting together to talk about possible ways to collaborate? It brings to mind the words of Bill Murray in the first "Ghostbusters": "Dogs and Cats Living Together...Mass Hysteria!"
Is it possible that the light at the end of the tunnel I see isn't another train.
Or were the Mayan's right and it doesn't really matter?
My question is did the Governors include their state tourism directors in the conversation? While I have the world of respect for Governor Brownback, I doubt he knows much about destination marketing and needs to leave that to Becky Blake. (Insert appropriate counterparts from Colorado and Nebraska...)
Posted by: Stephen | March 26, 2012 at 09:46
Here's hoping this meeting opens the doors for those discussion to begin.
Posted by: Bill Geist | March 26, 2012 at 11:15