The State spends millions of dollars on tourist advertising with no measurable results. It probably has some effect, but once they get here they find that Minnesota could be a friendlier place. Maybe the advertising dollars could be reduced and a few simple “tourist friendly” measures enacted:
1. Allow a free pass to a state or county park, and maybe a free overnight camping permit.
2. Do away with the exorbitant “out of state fishing license fee” and even allow a some free fishing days.
3. Give away a free lottery ticket to tourists that stop by border rest stops or other tourist welcoming centers like the one south of Brainerd.
4. And, of course, give away Minnesota road maps at all rest stops.
I’m sure there are additional good, or better, ideas. Word of mouth advertising is very powerful, and Minnesota as a “friendly place to visit” could be the talk of the nation!
Chuck Hagberg
Crosby
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I have visited many places in Minnesota that rely heavily on the tourist industry. Brainerd Lakes Area, Detroit Lakes Area, Alexandria Area, Duluth/North Shore Area, Lake of the Woods Area,Bemidji Area, Southern Minnesota Area, International Falls Area, etc.,all very friendly and tourist ready areas in our great state. Nice people, businesses and tourist friendly, however 1 trip through the Iron Range and any tourist in their right mind would never return to Minnesota. Obnoxious people, give me your money and keep on rolling type attitude, very few hospitable businesses and if you don't have a dozen DFL and Union bumper stickers pasted all over your car, keep on rolling. Now, don't degrade the rest of Minnesota because of one bad apple. Your suggestions above all have good merit also. Minnesota is tourist friendly, with the exceptionof the Iron Range. The only other tourist friendly measure we could enact would be to shut down all exit ramps leading to the Iron Range. They are an embarrassment to Minnesota and the rest of the great tourist areas listed above.