
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994                   TAG: 9406190103
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

SUSAN ALLEN HEADED FOR S. AFRICA

Susan Allen, wife of Gov. George Allen, will lead a trade and cultural exchange mission to South Africa this month.

Allen and a group of about 20 government, tourism and business officials will make the trip June 26 to July 2.

This is the first time the spouse of a Virginia governor has undertaken such an ambitious mission. The stops in South Africa, which recently held its first all-race election, include Johannesburg, Cape Town and Bophuthatswana.

Allen's major goals are to promote cultural exchanges, to showcase Virginia's people and products and to stump for Virginia's travel industry.

"It is an honor to represent the people of Virginia in promoting the commonwealth and all it has to offer," she said Friday. "Tourism is a driving force in Virginia's economy, and we must continue to promote the diversity of our attractions . . . to remain a world leader in the travel industry."

Any cost of the trip to taxpayers would be minimal, a spokeswoman for the governor said.

"USAfrica Airways will be paying for all air transportation and almost all of the accommodations for the group," said Melissa Herring, the governor's deputy press secretary.

Greg Lewis, president of the airline that recently started service to South Africa from Washington Dulles International Airport, said in a statement, "We are committed to the future of South Africa and look forward to furthering travel and tourism and economic development growth between Virginia and sub-Saharan Africa."

by CNB