The Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitors Bureau will celebrate National Tourism Week, May 9 to 17. As tourism is the second largest industry in Louisiana, the bureau will sponsor a variety of events in the community to create awareness of tourism’s impact. In addition, advertising throughout Calcasieu Parish in newspapers, radio and television and will highlight the vital role that tourism plays in the area’s economy and lives.

National Tourism Week kicks off with Children’s Day, Saturday, May 9, in the Welcome Center lobby from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free soft drinks, pizza, coffee and desserts will be available, and a variety of games and exhibits will be displayed to call attention to the great things for families to see and do in Southwest Louisiana. Gumbeaux Gator will be on hand to welcome everyone.
To celebrate Mother’s Day, the tourist information staff will hand out flowers on Sunday, May 10, to mothers who stop by the Welcome Center.

Monday, May 11, is Media Appreciation Day, as they salute members of the press and media, recognizing the importance of these services to tourism. To show their appreciation, bureau staff will deliver a special treat to area media outlets.

Tuesday, May 13, showcases restaurants in the area with “The Taste of Southwest Louisiana,” offering visitors and locals a chance to sample some of the best cuisine in Southwest Louisiana on a complimentary basis. The event, made possible by the generous support of the area restaurants, is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and held outside under a tent at the bureau’s welcome center in Lake Charles.

Wednesday, May 14, is Hospitality Appreciation Day, with a special area familiarization tour for hospitality partners. Thursday, May 15, members of the staff will set up a welcome display at the visitor center in Vinton. 

Friday is also Volunteer Appreciation Day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Lake Area volunteers are invited to join staff at the bureau, as they thank them for their valuable contributions to the community. This is the perfect time for friends to come together and visit about volunteering opportunities.
The public is invited to visit the welcome center to enjoy the festivities. As part of the celebration, the bureau will serve refreshments all week in the lobby of the welcome center. Every 100th visitor will receive a special gift and have their photo displayed on the “Visitors’ Hall of Fame.”  The center houses an expansive library of brochures and materials on the state, the Gumbeaux Gator souvenir shop, and administrative, sales and communications offices for the bureau. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.
For more information, contact the CVB at (337) 436-9588 or visit www.visitlakecharles.org.