Texas Travel Log, July 1977 Page: ATTACHMENT
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-77
TEXAS JULY 1977
PLANS CONTINUE APACE for the 23rd Annual Texas Travel
Counselors Conference to be held next year on South Padre Island.
- - Officially co-hosting the 1978 conference are the Harlingen CofC
and the South Padre Tourist Development Bureauwith assistance
from the Brownsville, Valleyand McAllen CofCs. All five organiza-
tions joined in hosting the poolside luncheon in Kerrville that gar-
nered compliments from TTCC gourmets and gourmands.
WITH TEXAS RANKING NUMBER THREE in the national tour-
ism picture, The Texas Gulf Coastarea is planning to help keep the
R A V EPadre Touris DeveopmNt NUBEu says, "We are cnatidelord
state in that position. Ralph Thompson, executive VP of the South
Padre Tourist Development Bureau, says, "We are considered
the new sun destination for the winter visitor. Florida has
become overcrowded and expensive. We are a new area and
still have that true Southern hospitality."
THE FORMER NUMBER THREE STATE IN TOURISM has
proposed a 1977-78 budget that is six times more than was spent on
tourism during the previous fiscal year. The $4.3 million will be spent
in eight categories to lead the New Yorkdrive for the nation's tourists. More than half the money will go to promote upstate New York
vacations and New York Cityweekends. Nearly $1 million will go into the production of collateral and merchandising materials. The
budget proposal received strong backing from the governor and legislative leaders.
SUNTOURS, WHICH "BROKE THE ICE" in bringing Canadian tourists to the Valleyby air, has announced an expansion of the
program for 1977-78. Harlingen CofC President David Allex said 5,500 came last year and 11,000 have been confirmed for this
year. He said the Canadian tour program could reach a peak of 50,000 in five years - depending on the availability of hotel-motel
rooms. Allex added, "The Canadian tourist market by air is in the embryo stage as far as the Valley is concerned."
THE UNITED STATES TRAVEL SERVICE came under fire as Sen. Daniel Inouye grilled the then-nominee Fabian Chavez
(later confirmed) on the agency's workings and financial relationships with DATO. The Hawaiian solon warned the prospective
USTS chief that he would be watching his performance carefully for signs of wasteful spending and whether USTS was carrying out
the intent of Congress. In what some experts regard as only Round One, Inouye told Chavez, "...Ihope you will utilize the tax dol-
lars in the best way possible...It's not easy to get funds for the USTS program. You (the agency) have critics, influential cri-
tics. "Inouye also asked for a cost accounting of USTS'sfinancial contribution to the May 1977 travel mart in Phoenixthat was cos-
ponsored by DATO. Following the hearings, a top USTS official said the agency would re-evaluate its financial participation.
HOUSTON CHRONICLETRAVEL EDITOR Joel Nash wrote about the paper's new section devoted to travel. Nash said the
standard-size section in the Sunday edition would enable the paper to "devote more space to a vital industry to Texas. "The sec-
tion will include weekly articles on travel within Texas in addition to material on national and international travel.
THE EL PASO TIMES EDITORIAL WRITER reviewed tourism figures and wrote, "Gasoline may be expensive but as the
summer travel season builds toward its peak there is every indication that 1977 will be a record year for tourism both here
and abroad. "He noted that the industry was difficult to define because of its many facets but that it is the country's fastest growing
industry.
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE OFFICIALS expect the newly opened Lake Livingston State Recreation Areato relieve the
pressure on Martin Dies Jr. State Park. Bob Hauser, head of the P& WL operations and maintenance section, says, "We anticipate
the new park (it opened July 1) will be highly visited by drawing from the populous Gulf Coast area." Hauser said the $3.9-
million development project was excellently equipped for visitors. Among the 214 camping and picnic sites is a 50-site area for
group :ravel trailers which is expected to attract travel trailer clubs. With three boat ramps, the park is also expected to draw fishing
folk because of Lake Livingston's fishing reputation. Ten permanent P&WL employees will staff the recreation area.
BILL NAUMANN, SOUTHERN LIVING REGIONAL MANAGER, has announced that Les Thomas is the magazine's new
travel editor. Thomas, who grew up in the Fort Worth area, is the former state editor of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Travel EditorThomas, based in Birmingham, will be responsible for stories in the 15 states covered by Southern Living.
PLANS TO BUILD A TARRANT COUNTY Museum of Western Transportation never got off the ground - which was 15
acres of vacant property at Fort Worth's Meacham Field. County commissioners took the advice of Milton Royles, museum chair-
man of the board, and voted to cancel a lease with the City of Fort Worth. The action was an inevitable result, Royles said, of an un-
successful bid for a $500,000 federal grant. The museum was to have been part of a redevelopment program for the city's Stockyards
area.
MIKE BENTON, DIRECTOR OF THE IRVING Convention and Tourist Bureau, has announced that Barbara Brown has
been named assistant to the director. The personable young woman from San Antonio has been with the S.A. Convention Bureau.TRAVEL AND INFORMATION DIVISION AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
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Texas. Travel and Information Division. Texas Travel Log, July 1977, periodical, July 1977; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1543058/m1/1/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.