history of the coalition - louisiana...strategic alliance is currently providing short-term and...

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Louisiana Tourism Coastal Coalition 1 Post Office Box 1579 1 Metairie, Louisiana 70004 1 (o) 504.982.6278

History of the Coalition

On May 28, 2010, tourism leaders from coastal parishes announced the formation of the Louisiana Tourism Coastal Coalition.

Following a series of meetings to consider ways to mitigate tourism losses from the April 20, 2010 BP oil spill disaster, coastal tourism officials decided to unite. The alliance devised a plan to overcome the challenges created by the BP disaster, and presented the plan to the state acting Lieutenant Governor Scott Angelle.

On June 16, 2010, Lieutenant Governor Angelle granted the coalition $5 million from BP tourism mitigation grant funding. The LTCC was charged with the task of implementing a plan to revive tourism in the coastal areas. Tourism officials from the ten parishes forming the Louisiana coastline created and began implementing a comprehensive recovery plan using marketing, public relations, community relations and more.

The LTCC is comprised of tourism leaders from Calcasieu/Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne and Vermillion parishes. This strategic alliance is currently providing shor t-term and long-term solutions to mitigate tourism losses in these parishes.

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Mission

The Louisiana Tourism Coastal Coalition is a long term endeavor to promote our coastal communities, fragile wetlands and encourage visitors to enjoy unique coastal Louisiana’s cultural and outdoor experiences. The coalition is dedicating itself to reviving tourism in the wake of the April 20, 2010 BP oil spill. The 10-member alliance has focused its effor ts on restoring tourism for the most impacted stakeholders.

Impacted stakeholders:

Charter Fishing1 Charter Operators1 Marina Owners1 Fishing supply companies

Tour Operators1 Swamp Tours1 Nature Tours1 Alligator Tours1 Airboat Tours1 Kayaking Tours1 Canoe Tours1 Scenic Byways

Hospitality Owners1 Cabin Owners1 Lodge Owners1 Small Hotel Owners1 Bed & Breakfast Owners1 Camp Owners1 RV Resorts

Park Management1 State & National Parks1 Birding Reserves1 Nature Trails1 Bike Trails

Festivals1 Lost Festivals1 Interrupted Festivals1 Fishing Tournaments1 Rodeos

Attraction Owners & Operators

Shopping1 Mall1 Specialty1 Boutique/ Specialty Gear

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Coastal Facts

• 13 Biking trails can be found along the Louisiana Coast

• Travel the 8 Scenic Byways through the scenery of the Louisiana Coast

• 3 Culinary Trails make their way through the Louisiana Coast

• Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve is located along the Louisiana Coast

• The town of Jean Lafitte was once a pirate hideout

• Home to 9 State Parks

• 397 miles of coastline with more than 43 miles of beach access to the Gulf of Mexico

• 7,721 miles of shoreline

• 11 National Wildlife Refuges dot the Coast

• 26 miles of beach in Cameron Parish alone

• In 2006, expenditures related to wildlife-watching in Louisiana amounted to $517 million

• Annual expenditures related to non-commercial fishing in Louisiana amount to $1.7 billion

• Louisiana’s coastal wetlands provide habitat for approximately 1.8 million migratory waterfowl

• Over 450 bird species have been recorded in Louisiana

• 3 world record catches have been made off the Louisiana Coast

• Louisiana is nicknamed the Bayou State

• Louisiana marshes are home to 120 songbirds

• 15 threatened or endangered species live in the Coastal Wetlands

• Louisiana coast is located on the Mississippi Flyway

• 24% of the nations commercial fishing in the lower 48 is done off the Louisiana Coast

• 9.2 million ducks and birds use Louisiana’s coastal habitats for migration and winter habitat.

• 40% of the coastal wetlands in the lower 48.

• Louisiana is referred to the as the Festival Capital of America

• Louisiana does not have counties instead it has parishes.

• The longest bridge in the United States is located in Louisiana (Lake Pontchartrain Causeway)

• The Battle of New Orleans was fought two weeks after the War of 1812 had ended and more than

a month before the news of the war’s end had reached Louisiana.

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Wednesday, January 5, 2011For Immediate Release

FIRST-EVER LOUISIANA COAST TOURISM CAMPAIGN TO HELP BRING VISITORS BACK TO LOUISIANA WATERS

METAIRIE, LA. – The first-ever media campaign to promote tourism to the Louisiana Coast has been launched as an effor t to overcome the impact of the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, according to Rebecca Buras, Executive Director of the Louisiana Tourism Coastal Coalition.

A comprehensive campaign employing broadcast adver tising, print adver tising, Internet, social media, direct mail marketing, public relations, and community outreach is now underway as a strategy to mitigate Louisiana tourism losses created by the April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. “We are delivering our message across America that Louisiana is open for business, and our waters and coastline are ready for tourists to enjoy the nation’s best fishing, and remarkable outdoor adventures,” said Buras.

The energetic broadcast campaign consisting of 15 television commercials of varying lengths is airing in more than 20 markets. The markets selected were determined by data compiled by Louisiana’s Depar tment of Wildlife and Fisheries of those cities with the most Louisiana fishing licenses. The television campaign, featuring the theme “Oh How Happy”, showcases Louisiana’s majestic coastline and the many tourism amenities it offers. The print campaign of nine adver tisements promoting fishing, birding, and other nature-based tourism utilizes captivating photos of the Louisiana Coast and catchy headlines to attract readers to the ads.

The campaign is a project of the Louisiana Tourism Coastal Coalition, an organization comprised of tourism leaders from the ten parishes that form the Louisiana coastline. “We are investing in our coast and inviting people to explore the magnificent nature-based tourism of Louisiana. Our stakeholders, including char ter fishermen, marina owners, lodge owners, park managers, attraction managers and more, deserve the dedicated attention created by this campaign to attract returning guests and new friends to our coast,” said Buras.

The campaign also employs an informative website at visitlouisianacoast.com and an aggressive social media campaign. The VisitLouisianaCoast.com campaign using television, print and Internet cost just over $3.5 million and was funded from a BP tourism mitigation grant presented to the State of Louisiana. The Louisiana Office of Tourism, led by Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, dedicated $5 million of funding to the VisitLouisianaCoast.com coastal tourism response campaign.

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Media Release

For Additional Information Contact: Greg Buisson: 504-378-3792

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visitlouisianacoast.com

facebook.com/louisianacoast

youtube.com/louisianacoast

twitter.com/louisianacoast

blog.visitlouisianacoast.com

flickr.com/louisianacoast

Internet Campaign

Information on Visit Louisiana Coast can be found on the internet at:

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The Visit Louisiana Coast campaign can be seen in the following publications:

- Field & Stream- Outdoor Life- Sport Fishing- Saltwater Sportsman- Fly Fishing in Salt Waters- Birding

Print Campaign

- Adventure Kayak- Kayak Angler- Texas Fish & Game- Louisiana Sportsman- Mississippi Sportsman- Tide Magazine

Here are some examples of advertisements.

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A list of expert fishing guides and captains are only a click away. Go online to www.VisitLouisianaCoast.com to learn more,and while there, register to win a Charter Fishing Trip

and request your free Louisiana Coast Adventure Guide. Tour our state at . . . .

Visiting the Louisiana Coast is an experience like no other.

Enjoy world-class fishing, awe-inspiring birding, a swamp

tour adventure, a marsh meander, or just a day at the beach.

The Louisiana Coast is open for business and pleasure.

Come get lost in the beauty and fun as you find yourself

having the time of your life on the Louisiana Coast.

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monsoursphotography.com B LaFleur photography

More coastal birding information is only a click away. Go online to www.VisitLouisianaCoast.com to learn more, and while there, request your free Louisiana Coast Adventure Guide.

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A list of expert fishing guides and captains are only a click away. Go online to www.VisitLouisianaCoast.com to learn more, and while

there, register to win a Charter Fishing Trip and request your free Louisiana Coast Adventure Guide. Tour our state at

Visiting the Louisiana Coast is an experience like no other.

Enjoy world-class fishing, awe-inspiring birding, a swamp

tour adventure, a marsh meander, or just a day at the beach.

The Louisiana Coast is open for business and pleasure.

Come get lost in the beauty and fun as you find yourself

having the time of your life on the Louisiana Coast.

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casting callcome to our

for some reel thrills

Now that waters have re-opened, the spotlight is back on the

world-class fishing of Louisiana. Our fertile fishing grounds and

the most liberal catch limits in the nation make Louisiana the

premier choice for the most avid anglers. So when you are up

for a casting call, make Louisiana your scene. Your adventure

will prove why we star as “the sportsman’s paradise.”

A list of expert fishing guides and captains are only a click away. Go online to www.VisitLouisianaCoast.com to learn more,and while there, register to win a Charter Fishing Trip and request your free

Louisiana Coast Adventure Guide. Tour our state at

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TWEET homeabout

something to

The next time you fly the coop consider landing in Louisiana.

Located on the majestic Mississippi Flyway, the Louisiana

Coast is home to over 400 different species of awe-inspiring

birds, making it one of the nation’s top destinations for bird

enthusiasts. Experience a bird’s-eye view of the Louisiana

Coast and learn why we call it “the sportsman’s paradise.”

A list of expert birding guides and trails are only a click away. Go online to www.VisitLouisianaCoast.com to learn more,and while there, register to win a Charter Fishing Trip and request your free

Louisiana Coast Adventure Guide. Tour our state at

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Television Campaign

The LTCC is advertising its Visit Louisiana Coast campaign in more than twenty (20) television markets. Markets were identified through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries fishing license registration database. Fishing, birding, boating, outdoor adventures, and nature based tourism are all featured in a colorful, vibrant media campaign that urges viewers to visit the Louisiana coast.

Out-of-State Fishing Licenses 2009 - 2010

Texas 70,103

Mississippi 52,251

Alabama 13,359

Arkansas 13,099

Florida 10,041

Georgia 8,671

Tennessee 6,580

Missouri 4,507

Oklahoma 4,060

history of the coalition - louisiana...strategic alliance is currently providing short-term and...

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