THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 30, 1995 TAG: 9505300042
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: CHEROKEE LENGTH: Long : 118 lines
The British are coming, the British are coming.
As are the Germans. And the French. And the Japanese.
Floridians and Canadians began flocking to North Carolina and South Carolina in the 1970s and 1980s. Now, an increasing number of tourists from Europe and Asia are discovering the New World attractions that the two states offer.
Wolfgang and Anne Jung of Frankfurt, Germany, rolled into town last week in a rented RV, eager to see both Cherokee Indians and the North Carolina mountains.
``The children wanted to see the Indians,'' Anne Jung explained as Stefan, 4, and Andreas, 2, sipped soft drinks at a picnic table at a Cherokee campground.
Three hours later, the Jungs posed for snapshots with Cherokee Chief Henry Lambert, resplendent in red, white and black feathers.
Nearly 400 miles away, on the South Carolina coast, George and Eileen Taylor of Yorkshire, England, were enjoying tee time - instead of tea time.
The golf-loving couple were partway through 17 days of golf, beach strolls, golf, she-crab soup and more golf.
``We're playing 16 of the 17 days,'' Eileen Taylor, 61, said before teeing off under a bright sun at the Indigo Creek course. ``It's a lot. It doesn't leave much for anything else.''
The Jungs and the Taylors represent a rapidly expanding, new breed of international tourists visiting North Carolina and South Carolina, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The reasons for the dramatic increase in overseas tourists are many:
North Carolina is one of only five states with two international gateways. Germans can fly direct from Frankfurt to Charlotte, and Britons can fly direct from London to both Charlotte and Raleigh.
A weak American dollar makes a visit to the States less expensive.
Travelers who've already visited well-known spots like New York and Walt Disney World want to see other parts of the country.
North Carolina and South Carolina are doing overseas marketing to attract European travelers.
South Carolina began enticing Europeans 17 years ago. ``It's paid off handsomely,'' said Bob Liming, director of the state's international marketing office. ``It's double-digit growth over the last 10 years.''
North Carolina has been slower to get into international tourism. But last year, the state set aside $5 million for a three-year campaign to sell its mountains, golf courses and beaches in the United Kingdom, Germany and France.
There are some problems, however.
Few hospitality workers speak German or French, and foreign currency is all but impossible to exchange except at major airports, some hotels and travel agencies. The only bank in Cherokee, one of North Carolina's top international tourist destinations, doesn't exchange money.
So far, Germans have accounted for the biggest growth in international tourists. Germans arriving at North Carolina airports nearly quadrupled from 7,500 in 1991 to 29,000 in 1993, the latest figure available. In South Carolina, the number of German vacationers has jumped from 32,000 in 1991 to 60,000 in 1994.
``The Germans are great travelers,'' said Ralph Peters, the new head of the state Division of Travel and Tourism.
``They've got the money and they've got the time. They do like the mountains. They like whitewater rafting.''
``The British are interested in golf, history, eating and shopping,'' said Peters, a retired president of AAA Carolinas motor club.
Like other Brits, Eileen and George Taylor used to golf in Portugal and Spain. Then it got too expensive.
They couldn't say enough about Myrtle Beach before flying home Saturday. ``The climate is usually good,'' said George Taylor, 63, a retired Yorkshire bobby. ``Prices are good. People are friendly. We all speak the same language.''
Well, mostly.
To the British, it's a holiday and not a vacation. They drive a hire car, not a rental car. They roll their eyes skyward when they order tea - and get it iced rather than hot.
To make things easier for tourists, both states now publish material in several languages.
North Carolina recently published separate brochures in French, German, Japanese, Spanish, British English and American English. French tourists now can read about ``rafting dans les rapides in Caroline du Nord.''
For the first time, Cherokee this year translated a tourist newspaper into German. ``Wilkommen zu un serem bezaubernden Land,'' it says. That is, ``Welcome To Our Enchanted Land.''
Cherokee officials say many Germans are interested by Native Americans and their culture.
``They just have this fascination with Native Americans,'' said Dave Redman, director of the tribe's travel and promotion office.
Cherokee officials have set out to attract Germans to the reservation 50 miles west of Asheville. For the past three years, Cherokee officials have attended the world's largest travel exposition in Berlin.
The work has paid off. Cherokee has become a stop on an 18-day East Coast bus tour. Two to four bus-loads of predominantly German tourists arrive each week for an overnight stay. The only other North Carolina stop is Durham and its cigarette factories.
Redman said German tourists have helped to increase tribal tourism revenues from $43 million in 1990 to $62 million in 1994.
The world-traveling Japanese also have discovered Cherokee. Redman said one tour operator flies 12 to 15 Japanese from Tokyo to Atlanta four times a year and buses them to Cherokee.
Sandra Ecker, 25, of Munich, visited Cherokee for the first time last week with her friend Teoman Eris, 28, and his family, also from Munich.
The Eris family marveled at North Carolina's diverse landscape. They also discovered the wonders of Southern food - even grits.
``Ja,'' said Ilhan Eris, 58, the father. ``Sehr gut! (very good).'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
``Wilkommen'' to North Carolina
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Anne and Wolfgang Jung of Frankfurt, Germany - with Andreas, 2, and
Stefan, 4 - join Cherokee Chief Henry Lambert. In two years, German
arrivals at North Carolina airports nearly quadrupled.
KEYWORDS: TOURISM by CNB