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Show Keep Tourists Longer County Council Hears The Governor's' conference on Utah's tourism was the focal point of l last week's Garfield County Travel 1 Council meeting held Friday afternoon at the courthouse in Panguitch. Garfield's chairman Bob Benfield attended the conference at the Hotel Sheraton, Salt Lake City representing the Color Country Travel Council of which he also serves as chairman. Representing Garfield County for Benfield was Gene Bernhard, co-owner of the Backwoods Inn on Utah Highway 12. Bernhard, reporting on the several seminars he attended, said "there are positive vibes about tourism throughout the state." In describing what he termed an "exceptional meeting," Bernard said Phillip Westlake, who sells marketing ideas, told the delegates that "everybody in business is a salesman, positive or negative." He 1 also quoted Westlake as saying, "We live in the best travel area for tourism."' - Bernhard said he learned that California tourists buy more and stay here longer than those from any other state. He said, "California is starting an ad campaign to keep her people at home. However," he added, "Indications are that the lure of Utah is so great that we can expect an ad campaign to be largely ineffective." The delegates were told that the western traveler "wants good service, wants to be cared for and, in the idiom, wants to be stroked". The attendees were also told that Utah has a reputation for friendliness and cooperation. They were reminded that it is important to establish good relations with the media and to get involved with fund raising so that "others will know that you are a concerned and civic-minded business." "One of the main points brought out in the seminars," said Benfield, "is to talk to your customers, but also to be very careful to listen." Business owners were urged to become safety conscious. It was estimated that Walt Disneys operations average 30,000 accidents per year, but very few are prosecuted since the Disney corporation is very safety conscious. It not only has top safety procedures but uses many safety monitors also. Business owners were advised to accept the responsibility to teach their employees the importance of safety, to protect the visitor from injury and to protect their own pocketbookc. The delegates were told that statistics show that major motels pay from $30,000 to $1 million per accident. In other business Steve Oulman, representing the Five County Association of Governments, in a critique of the cross country ski tour held at Ruby's Inn in February, said that he has only heard positive reports about the event. "All the (See TRAVEL Page 5) Travel participants in the first ski tour adventure are looking forward to the next time"" Oulman said. He said that the next race route would be planned with some shorter loops as alternative paths in the event a contestant tired, or if younger or older skiers decided to call it quits. Oulman informed the council that he would be attending the University of Oregon this fall. "You've done a wonderful job and we'll all miss you," said Benfleld, paying tribute to Oulman who contributed largely to the success of the ski tour. August 24 this year will bring a rerouted Bryce Canyon Rim-Rum race and is expected to draw several hundred participants. Benfleld announced that Tuesday, April 23 will bring members of the Southern California AAA clubs to the area. The group will lunch at the Country Corner Cafe, tour Bryce Canyon National Park and finish with a social hour at Ruby's Inn. On Friday, May 17, Tour Producers of Europe will come to the area the same day as the official opening of the new TWA lodges in BCNP. |