With prices of gas well over $3/gallon, Branson, MO (population 6,050) isn’t wanting high gas prices as an excuse of why people don’t visit the tourism mecca. This spring when gas prices went over $2/gallon Branson started a program that gave visitors a $50 coupon book if they presented $40 in gas receipts.
Without commercial air service, Branson is totally dependent upon cars and buses for its 7 million + tourists/year. So, their strategy to reach out to their many repeat customers (79% of their visitors) makes a lot of sense.
And their strategy appears to be working. 2005 is shaping up as Branson’s best tourist season since 2002. Thru mid-year hotel room demand is up 4% with sales tax revenue up 5.5%.
A community like Branson could sit back and sit on its laurels. Instead, it is entrepreneurially reinventing itself and finding ways to make it more of a value to visit.
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