CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau is out with a new travel planner and magazine that highlights attractions, restaurants, hotels and more across the Kanawha Valley.
The first official travel planner and inspiration guide for Spring/Summer 2018 was unveiled Tuesday at the State Capitol.
“We really focus on food, art, music and recreation. That’s the promise that we make to tourists. Through compelling photography, we tell them about the secret places and maybe the places they don’t know is touristy. They’re going to be inspired to go to those places,” said Alisa Bailey, president and CEO of the Charleston CVB.
Charleston is not the only city included in the travel guides. Bailey said they have worked collaboratively with South Charleston, Dunbar, St. Albans, Nitro; as well as Yeager Airport, the Kanawha County Commission, the West Virginia Tourism Office, Mountain Stage and others to put present a guide that showcases the entire county.
“All of the main cities in the Kanawha Valley have come together and we’re speaking with one voice because tourists really don’t care where city lines are,” Bailey said.
Communities across Kanawha County are making big changes, not just Charleston, Bailey said.
“All of these communities are doing improvements. We have the $100 million convention center opening. South Charleston is putting in a shopping plaza. Dunbar and Institute are putting in the Shawnee Multi Sports Complex and that’s going to be tremendous and St. Albans has got the best kayaking and fixing up the downtown,” she said.
State Tourism Commissioner Chelsea Ruby told a crowd of people at Tuesday’s unveiling her goal is to attract people to a “destination” area, not necessary just a city. She said her office is working to increase exposure to the state, to increase the average length of someone’s stay and to increase the amount of money people spend.
Bailey said the overall goal is to generate more tourism dollars.
“I think the message of the day is that everybody is working together to get more tourists to come here and spend money,” she said.
The travel planner and magazine are available at the Visitors Center in the Capitol Market in Charleston, at Visitors Centers in St. Albans, Dunbar, South Charleston and Nitro, at Yeager Airport, in hotels and around the valley.
Guides can also be found online at charlestonwv.com.