The Grand Junction Convention and Visitor Bureau laid out the welcome mat to 400 members of the Colorado tourism industry and national media advertising representatives this week for the Governor’s 2002 Colorado Tourism annual convention.

Gov. Bill Owens stressed the need to make tourism a priority, given the national economy, fallout from the terrorist attacks, wildfires and drought.

The Colorado Tourism Office reported total spending by overnight visitors rose 2 percent to $7 billion, an average of $19 million per day, in 2001. That’s a increase from the $6.9 billion spent in 2000.

Vacationers spent $5.6 billion of the 2001 total, 80 percent of the total of all overnight travelers, while business travelers contributed the remaining $1.4 billion.

The tourism contingency from Glenwood Springs included state Rep. Gregg Rippy and Garfield County Commissioner John Martin.

“Garfield County is very interested in tourism as part of its diversity of income,” Martin said. “Why shouldn’t we be interested? All of our businesses are taking part: banking, hotel and motel, transportation and housing.”

A large part of the tourism conference highlighted the new 2003 cooperative advertising opportunities. This program was developed to offer opportunities for tourism partners, regardless of their budget, a way to participate in the state’s national advertising campaign.

PRACO, the Colorado Tourism Office’s advertising agency, reported more co-op advertising means more advertising for everyone, and creates the best-case scenario for increasing tourism.

As part of the conference, the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association and Versatile Video of Carbondale created a conference-sized movie theatre to highlight their “Make Some History of Your Own” DVD.

Jeanne and Steve Beckley also unveiled the new Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park name and logo.

“We are excited about the grand opening of the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in March with the new tram and visitor center,” Steve Beckley said. “We have a lot of other great new ideas for the park which will share with everyone once they are finalized.”

During the convention, speakers reinforced the concept of rolling out the welcome mat for tourists and turn an ordinary vacation into the extraordinary.