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VIRGINIA WELCOME CENTER OPEN AGAIN State and local attractions hope for boost in tourism
Fredericksburg's Welcome Center could encourage tourism
Date published: 10/12/2007
By KELLY HANNON Tourists at Virginia Welcome Centers can book hotel rooms, make dinner reservations and reserve a tee time at a golf course. After a year's absence, those services are available again at the Fredericksburg Welcome Center on Interstate 95 south. The new 14,500-square-foot facility opened this week after the old center was torn down. "It's going to get people to stay longer and spend more," said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corp. The old center was the most heavily visited in Virginia. On a busy Saturday, as many as 7,000 vehicles would cycle through the parking lots. The new center is packed with brochures from area and state attractions, and flat-screen televisions broadcasting traffic updates. The Welcome Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. The rest area is open 24 hours a day. "The tourists look for the shopping area and we have provided that along our 95," said Commonwealth Transportation Board member Mary Lee Carter, who represents the Fredericksburg District. Fredericksburg-area businesses and restaurants offered free samples and information to motorists Wednesday at a grand-opening celebration. Jennifer Diego, Riverside Center Dinner Theater's director of marketing and advertising, said she hasn't observed large numbers of travelers seeing shows because of pamphlets made available to them at a welcome center. But, that could change, she said, now that the local center is open and more guests are spending the night here. "Every extra person helps," Diego said. Historic Kenmore and George Washington's Ferry Farm see an equal mix of spontaneous and planned visits, said historical interpreter Joanna Buser. Welcome-center brochures could encourage people to visit, she said. The welcome event also had representatives from the Newport News area, including The Mariners' Museum. Museum interpreter Al Mitchell passed out museum guides and color-coded entrance coupons. If the coupons surface at the admission booth, the museum will know the pamphlets at the Welcome Center were a success. "We'll see," Mitchell said. Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436Email: khannon@freelancestar.com
Date published: 10/12/2007
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