DATE: Sunday, April 6, 1997                 TAG: 9704030005

SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Opinion

SOURCE: BY JAMES C. WRIGHT 

                                            LENGTH:   41 lines

PROMOTE ALL HAMPTON ROADS AMENITIES

Congratulations to the City Council of Virginia Beach for going ahead with plans to build a PGA tournament golf course to add to the Bayville and other great courses.

All of the citizens applaud the new amphitheater, which gives locals and visitors outstanding entertainment in the summer. We are equally proud of the rebirth of Atlantic Avenue and the expansion of our pride and joy, the Virginia Marine Science Museum.

The Virginia Department of Tourism Promotion, under the direction of Patrick McMahon, gives the cities of Virginia Beach and Norfolk each $300,000 annually for just that - tourism promotion. This is in addition to the cities' own spending. Virginia Beach has a dedicated tax on hotel rooms and restaurant meals that adds $1 million annually for tourism promotion.

Numerous comparisons are being made between Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Virginia Beach in terms of number of golf courses and motel rooms. There are other comparisons to which we should direct our attention.

The first should be recreational fishing. Already (according to a very soon to be published report from the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences), it is a $400 million industry in Virginia.

Once upon a time we had numerous charter boats. Many have left our area, and few new ones have appeared. Why?

Ocean City, Md., almost owns the month of August with back-to-back excellent fishing tournaments. Who supports these? Who finances these? All of the businesses, from gas stations to grocery stores, do.

Who gains from this massive influx of visitors? The same businesses that promote recreational fishing.

The National Marine Fisheries Service of 1994 survey said that recreational fishing in the United States is a $63 billion industry.

It's time for Hampton Roads to promote something it has that is unique: fantastic recreational fishing. MEMO: James C. Wright, M.D., hosts ``Salt-water Fishing With Dr. Jim,''

shown on WAVY-TV Channel 10.

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