Branson/Tri-Lakes News: Tourism analysts maintain bullish outlook for 2008

“Resorts are all open on Lake Taneycomo (in part) due to U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers’ stringent guidelines,” said Lynn Berry, who heads up public relations for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, referring to April flooding along Lake Taneycomo. The Corps requires commercial buildings to be set back a required number of feet from Taneycomo, unlike many homes that were damaged by the spring flood, Berry said.

The Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce also reports business as usual in Stone County’s lake communities. The Table Rock chamber states in a news release that area resorts and the Port of Kimberling Marina are open, and that “fishing is good.”

“I’m still bullish for travel in Branson,” said Jerry Henry, corporate director of research for Herschend Family Entertainment, which owns tourist magnets Silver Dollar City, Celebration City and White Water in Branson.

Henry said area travel experienced two of its fastest growing years in the past decade when it grew by 8.9 percent in 2006 and another 5.2 percent in 2007.

Nationwide, the Travel Industry Association predicts a 2 percent growth rate in travel during 2008.

“I think Branson will surpass that,” Henry said, estimating Branson’s growth to be 2.5 percent to 3 percent.

Henry puts Branson in the same category as steady tourism destinations Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; and Myrtle Beach, S.C. “(They) will be tracking along a little faster than larger cities,” he noted.

With Missouri gasoline prices 17 percent higher than they were last May, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report, and even higher gas prices forecasted during the summer, travel patterns are on shaky ground. However, Branson officials think they can benefit from people staying closer to home. A big reason is its central location, Henry said.

The average unleaded gas price on May 7 in the Midwest was $3.49 a gallon, which it shared with the Southwest for the lowest regional average. AAA reported that the Mountain West region was 2 cents higher, and the Pacific Coast recorded the highest average at $3.84 a gallon.

Henry said the transportation costs would likely mean summer travelers stay fewer days and spend less on attractions.

To soften the impact, the Branson chamber is issuing Gas Buster Discount Punch Cards, through a program it started in 2002. According to Berry, anyone showing a minimum of $40 in receipts for gas purchased on a trip to Branson can pick up a card from the one of the Branson chamber welcome centers located at the corners of highways 65 and 248 and highways 65 and 160. The cards are worth up to $50 in discounts when redeemed at participating businesses until Oct. 31.

“We continue to try to help families craft a great vacation in Branson,” Berry said.

An estimated 8.4 million visitors came to the Branson area in 2007. To encourage growth of first-time visitors this year, the Branson chamber is spending $450,000 for TV spot advertising in six markets within a 425-mile range of Branson.

Those six cities are Cedar Rapids and Des Moines, Iowa; Lincoln and Omaha, Neb.’ Champaign, Ill.; and Shreveport, La., Branson chamber’s marketing director Dan Lennon said.

The Branson chamber also will spend another $3.2 million in national TV advertising. “We used that to bolster our 25 national cable networks,” Lennon said.

The chamber also has invested $350,000 in Web marketing. Lennon said the chamber plans to spend about $5 million in overall marketing in 2008.

Reasons to Visit

Here’s a look at some of Branson’s newest attractions, activities and restaurants in 2008:

Newly opened

Texas Land & Cattle Steak House at Branson Landing (formerly Sullivan’s Steakhouse)

Wok Express at Branson Landing

Mount Pleasant Winery

Roaring Falls at Celebration City

Titanic Movie Gallery Experience, a tribute and exhibit of the 1998 Oscar-winning film “Titanic” at the Titanic museum

Rankin Brothers Classic Music Revue at the Welk Resort Theatre

Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers’ morning show at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre

Brookside Miniature Golf

John Daly’s Murder Rock Golf and Country Club

Monday Night Movies, free weekly at 9 p.m., outdoors at Branson Landing

Open soon

Sight & Sound Theatre premieres with “Noah” (May 24)

Gage’s Family Marina and Shoppes at the Landing which includes Shorty Small’s Restaurant, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and Denney’s Harley Davidson apparel (May 25)

RideMakerz, a build-a-car retail shop at Branson Landing (May 30)

The Entertainers premieres with a morning show at Andy Williams Moon River Theatre (June 6)

Romano’s Macaroni Grill at Branson Landing (Aug. 1)

Payne Stewart Tribute Golf Course at Branson Hills (summer)

Mama Milanos Italian Cuisine and Wedding Italiano Theater at Branson Landing (mid-August)

Joe Diffie opens at Yakov Theater (Sept. 6)

Silver Dollar City’s Culinary & Craft School (September)

Sources: Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Branson Landing

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