Dual celebrations aim to hit the right notes

Louisiana

Dual celebrations aim to hit the right notes

LOUISIANA is promoting two major celebratory events at World Travel Market which it hopes will help it top the annual 100,000 UK visitor mark in the next couple of years.

The first commemorates 100 years since the birth of the father of jazz, Louis Armstrong, when New Orleans stages the Sachmo Summer Festival on August 4 next year.

The state’s musical heritage will also play a big part in the 2002/2003 celebrations marking the bicentennial of the signing of the Louisiana Purchase.

The historic document led to the development of the US and Louisiana plans to hold a series of musical events, concerts, theatre productions and exhibitions to commemorate this.

These will be staged leading up to and during 2003 as part of events throughout the US.

Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism secretary Phillip Jones said: “These will help to showcase the diversity of our history, heritage and music forthe UK niche market we are targeting.”

Jones: targeting niche markets