Stay a little longer
Campaign calls tourists to go ‘Day Trippin’’ in W. Tenn.
There’s more to West Tennessee than just Memphis blues and barbecue.
At least that’s the idea behind the new “West Tennessee Day Trippin’ ” tourism campaign unveiled Thursday at the Crescent Club by state and local officials.
“‘Day Trippin’ is an exciting way to encourage the millions of visitors who come to Memphis to stay in West Tennessee an additional day or two, translating into more dollars spent in the local economies,” Tennessee Tourism Commissioner Susan Whitaker said in a statement. “This campaign represents what can happen when regions work together.”
Tourism officials point out that a short drive from Memphis, Shelby County has horses, golf and shopping. Fayette County has historic trails, antebellum homes, lakes and rivers. Lauderdale County has tomatoes, of course, and waterslides and museums.
The campaign is a branded video series produced by the Memphis Area Association of Governments with a $160,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and funds from other organizations.
The videos star Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, Lauderdale County Mayor Rod Schuh and Fayette County Mayor Rhea “Skip” Taylor. Each mayor invites viewers to their counties, lists places of interest there and then reminds them that all of it is within a day trip of Memphis.
Luttrell beckons viewers to Memphis International Raceway and to Mirimichi golf course, both in the Millington area. Taylor tells of the Walking Tall Trail, named for lawman Buford Pusser. Schuh calls people to the Alex Haley Museum.
The “Day Trippin’ ” videos will soon appear on local television stations and on the Internet. The MAAG will post ads about the campaign around the region.
“We’re proud of all the places to go day tripping in Lauderdale County,” Schuh said in his video. “We know if you try us once, you’ll definitely be back.”