THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, July 19, 1995               TAG: 9507190449
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: D2   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY MYLENE MANGALINDAN, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   49 lines

SUSAN ALLEN PRAISES REGION FOR ITS CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE TOURISM

Hampton Roads got an approving nod Tuesday from the first lady of Virginia.

Susan Allen, wife of Gov. George F. Allen, commended the area for its cooperative, regional approach in promoting tourism.

``This area's done a wonderful job,'' said Allen, the keynote speaker at the quarterly meeting of the Blue Ribbon Commission, a business group supporting the Newport News/Williamsburg International airport in Newport News.

She cited the $3 million Virginia Waterfront campaign, which markets the cities of Williamsburg, Virginia Beach and Norfolk as one regional destination.

Tourists are so time-starved that they need someone to help them package their vacation getaways, Allen said.

``They need to have things made simple for them,'' she said. She credited the Virginia Waterfront campaign with ``creating a picture'' for tourists, especially at a time that other parts of the country are competing aggressively for tourism.

``People are not just coming to Newport News for vacation. They're coming to Hampton, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Norfolk. . . .

``If we pull together and work as regions, we'll get more bang for our buck,'' she told the group of more than 50 business and political leaders. ``It's all part of the marketing. It's all done regionally. We need to do all we can to get more of the national and international business here.''

Virginia is the ninth-most-popular tourist destination among the 50 states. Last year, 50 million people visited the state and spent $9.3 billion. Tourism also generates 162,500 jobs, according to Amanda Freeman, special projects manager for the Virginia Department of Tourism.

She credited Virginia Beach with starting the ball rolling.

``Virginia Beach made things turn around when it did its Oceanfront improvements,'' Freeman said. ``Chesapeake, Portsmouth, all these cities caught on at the same time.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

RICHARD L. DUNSTON/Staff

Susan Allen, wife of Gov. George F. Allen, was the keynote speaker

Tuesday at a meeting of the Blue Ribbon Commission.

by CNB