The dollars speak for themselves. San Benito County and the
region speak for themselves.
The time, like fine grapes at one of the county’s vineyards, is
ripe, and the San Benito County Tourism Committee, established a
few years ago and now in full swing, is about to harvest the county
and region and promote it to tourists, offering it to them like a
fine vintage, which it is.
The dollars.
The dollars speak for themselves. San Benito County and the region speak for themselves.
The time, like fine grapes at one of the county’s vineyards, is ripe, and the San Benito County Tourism Committee, established a few years ago and now in full swing, is about to harvest the county and region and promote it to tourists, offering it to them like a fine vintage, which it is.
The dollars.
According to the state tourism board, San Benito County receives $76 million out of the $75 billion that tourists spend annually in the state. Each dollar spent in the county can by multiplied 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 times in local economic growth, meaning that current $76 million for San Benito County increases to $114 million in positive economic impacts such as $1.3 million in city and county taxes and more than 1,200 local service-related jobs.
From the numbers, county tourism just makes business sense.
San Benito County and the region, it’s a unique area with attractions one can’t find most anywhere else.
Starting with the Mission San Juan Bautista, it’s one of the state’s 21 missions that are the No. 1 tourist attraction in California, attracting more than 5.5 million visitors a year. Those millions of tourists, with tens of thousands coming to San Juan Bautista, generate funds for businesses and our cities in and around the historic site. But the committee has much more to promote.
There’s the dozens of wineries offering tastings, chocolate manufacturing and ag-related tours and packages offering a glimpse at our roots. There’s hiking at Pinnacles National Monument, off-road riding at Hollister Hills, one of a handful of state vehicle recreation areas in California, and golfing at the county’s numerous courses.
But the list of attractions doesn’t stop there. There’s the annual Hollister Independence Rally, now one of the biggest rallies in the nation, rodeos, camping at Fremont Peak State Park and taking in the heavens at the observatory.
The tourism committee, a sub-committee of the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce, is comprised of some of the top business leaders in the county. They know what a beautiful place this is because they live and work here.
The committee members also understand the tremendous potential that lies within our grasp. Why let the many bus trips pass through or skirt San Benito County on their way to the many attractions in neighboring counties without stopping here?
Californians throughout the state love their daytrips and our county is or should be one of the favorite destinations for in-state travelers.
The committee has been meeting weekly since the early part of the year, and now the Hollister Free Lance is proud to be a part of this major campaign. With the committee’s backing, it will publish San Benito County Destinations, a twice-yearly magazine coming out in fall and spring, and launch a Web site, www.sanbenitodestinations.com, to help market the area.
The tourism committee is on to something good here. The dollars and area speak for themselves, because San Benito County tourism is good for everyone.
