Adirondack Regional Tourism Council Receives Explore New York Grant

Award to assist with fishing promotions

BEEKMANTOWN, N.Y., May 1, 2007 - The Adirondack Regional Tourism Council (ARTC) has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the state to promote fishing in the Adirondacks. The funds will be used to reprint the popular fishing guide and expand the 2007 marketing campaign. Fishing has been and continues to be one of the top ranking travel motivators to the Adirondack region. The ARTC provides anglers with fishing resources online and in print form. Whether planning a trip or in need of tips and insight while on a fishing excursion, maps, guides and information are made available to assist anglers explore the many waters. The Adirondack Fishing publication provides anglers with a resource guide on the lakes, ponds, rivers and streams including maps with descriptions and details on the different fish populations. The 2006-2007 edition also includes grid listings for charters, guide services, bait and tackle shops, marinas, and public boat launches in the Adirondacks. A 2005 Adirondack Regional Tourism Council fishing conversion survey, the latest survey on this topic, showed that 21 percent of survey respondents said that the ARTC fishing guide inspired a trip that would not have been planned otherwise. "The timing could not be better," states Ann Melious, executive director of the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council. "We usually run low in terms of quantities. This grant will enable us to keep up with the increasing demand and continue with our efforts." This year, the ARTC introduced the Adirondack Fishing Photo Contest. Anglers can submit and view favorite fishing pictures at www.fishadk.com with the chance to win cash prizes. "This grant will also help us expand and execute new techniques," adds Ms. Melious. "Like the interactive online photo contest, we will develop new ways to engage with our audience and continue providing the tools and resources to explore the many brooks, rivers, streams, and lakes in our vast and diverse area." The Adirondack Regional Tourism Council applied for the grant in January and was notified of the award in April. Empire State Development (ESD) administers I LOVE NEW YORK programs and works in conjunction with the Governor's Tourism Advisory Council. The grant program arose out of tourism matching fund legislation calling for a new grant program designed to encourage an integrated thematic approach to tourism promotion. About Adirondack Regional Tourism Council ARTC is a non-profit consortium of eight counties that cooperatively promotes economic development through tourism. For the past 25 years, the destination marketing organization has been working to spur job growth, build business opportunities and improve the quality of life for people in the region. Member counties include Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Lewis, St. Lawrence and Warren Counties, as well as the Town of Webb in Herkimer County. It maintains offices at the I-87 South Welcome Center in Beekmantown. For more information about ARTC, call 1-800- 487-6867 or visit www.visitadirondacks.com.