With the veil of the pandemic slowly but surely dissolving, Louisiana Governor Billy Nungesser wants to breathe new life into our tourism industry. He says Acadiana could play a big role in the success that is yet to come.
“Getting open again is only part of the way to get there,” says a rather blunted Nungesser. “If these restaurants, shops, and attractions don’t make money, they won’t last. We cannot afford to have no money making events and we have to roll up our sleeves and do whatever we can to physically support them. ”
According to Nungesser, this means state and local governments, businesses and local residents need to support one another. You need to help groups like Lafayette’s Acadian Village who have experienced an event in the past 14 months after an event completely derailed.
“Many plans got derailed,” remembers Simone Doucet, Operations Manager at Acadiana Village. Our customers couldn’t come. ”
But there is good news for Simone Doucet and her institution. Activities and bookings, she says, are slowly increasing. “Yes, we actually have three different tour operators planning trips in October and November. So that’s a blessing too.”
Acadiana, Nungesser believes, is an absolute must for tourism thanks to its relationship with our northern neighbor. “Canada is our largest international market,” he says, “and a few years ago we started marketing direct travel from Canada to the Lafayette area. We saw busloads of people come down. “
But Nungesser adds – what will really accelerate the return of tourists to our state – is the priceless, immeasurable quality of its people.
“We treat strangers like family, we invite strangers to our back yard to catch crawfish, and you leave Louisiana with a friend for life.”
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