You Can Make The Difference

By George Swift



As part of our pro-active efforts to market Southwest Louisiana, I recently attended a huge trade show in Chicago for the plastics industry. Louisiana Economic Development and Southwest Louisiana was represented along with some of the other areas of the state. Thousands attended the gigantic McCormick Center.

It was interesting to see the reactions to the Louisiana booth. As a small giveaway, we used the little bottles of Tabasco. There was universal recognition of this hot sauce from attendees over the world whether they were from China, Korea, Mexico, as well as all over the United States. We are now beginning to get positive reactions about doing business in Louisiana since the new pro-business, Jindal administration and new ethics laws are now in place. Our state is number one in the nation in financial disclosure from elected officials. We’re beginning to see progress in attitudes toward our state.

As a tourist destination, Louisiana also scores high. Folks who have traveled to Louisiana said they loved our state, its culture and people. Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu talks about our Cultural Economy and how it can be expanded. There’s no doubt that the positives of Louisiana’s food, music, and friendly people can help us develop our economy.

Those who have visited our state want to return. Granted, most visitors and worldwide citizens know New Orleans more than they know the rest of the state and our region is not as well known, but that is beginning to change. The casino industry brings in 8 million visitors a year. We need to let them know there’s more to our region than our popular casinos. Our wildlife, hunting and fishing, museums, festivals, restaurants and other attractions are worth exploring.

How do we get people to make the transition from visitors to residents and business operators? You can have a big influence on our visitors. We can be friendly and hospitable, which most of us are. It’s part of our Louisiana culture.

We can be positive and informed if someone asks directions or about something to do. All it takes is one negative comment and the visitor is left with a bad impression. The SWLA Convention & Visitors Bureau, along with the Beauregard, Allen, Cameron, and Jeff Davis tourist bureaus, can give you plenty of suggestions for things to do in each parish.

Why not play tourist in your own back yard and take a mini-trip in our region to see all the things we have here. Have you driven the Creole nature Trail All American Road lately? Have you visited the new Leatherwood museum in Oakdale? How about the museums of DeRidder? The Imperial Calcasieu Museum? The Old 1911 City Hall? The Central School in Lake Charles? You’ll enjoy them and will be pleasantly surprised—and you’ll be better prepared to be an ambassador for our area.

Several years ago, Mayor Roach formed a task force of new residents to our area to find out what they wanted from the region. Many of the items they identified are here—just not as well known. We can do a better job of informing our local residents about our attractions and amusements.
Most everyone knows a classmate or fellow member of a civic or religious organization that owns or has influence with companies located outside the state.

If you let us know at the SWLA Alliance we can send them a video and other information on our area and the positives for doing business here. There’s nothing better than a personal contact from you to open the door. We can all be ambassadors to increase tourism and business just by informing our friends and relatives who live elsewhere about visiting, living and doing business in Southwest Louisiana. Let’s contact those we know—especially our younger folks who have moved away. Invite them back home.

Let’s think globally, act regionally and talk up Southwest Louisiana.