Region makes play for surge in activity sector

Rocky mountain states by Alan Moore

Champagne powder:the Colorado International Marketing Organisation is flagging up superb ski facilities

Region makes play for surge in activity sector

Mid-western states promote wide-ranging options

Mid-western states promote wide-ranging options

IT has been a year of mixed fortunes for the group of Rocky Mountain states that are perennial favourites of holidaymakers seeking a taste of the old West.

The popular ski resorts of Colorado and Wyoming are investing in new facilities to meet a developing European audience, but the late-summer fires severely dented the ranch and outdoor activity businesses in Montana and, to a lesser extent, Idaho.

Winter Olympics

Other states such as North and South Dakota and Utah are also figuring more prominently in UK operators’ escorted and self-drive itineraries.

Utah will use World Travel Market as a platform to launch the Winter Olympic Games, being held in various locations around Salt Lake City in February 2002.

State tourism officials not only want to promote the Games but also the new facilities and accommodation in an effort to entice more ski operators to feature the area. Key ski locations include The Canyons, Winter Sports Park, Deer Valley and Park City Mountain Resort.

Boosting outdoor activities

The delegation from the Colorado International Marketing Organisation will focus on the state’s year-round attractions as well as the world’s best ‘champagne powder’ snow the state claims it has in its ski resorts.

Colorado Ski Country vice-president of marketing and communications, Charlie Mayfield said: “Over the past 10 years Colorado has led the way with new innovations, modern gondola transportation and on-mountain amenities. This year will be no exception and visitors will continue to see that Colorado sets the standard.”

Those stopping by Colorado’s stand will get an update on the current $950 million, 10-year development programme for the state’s key winter sports locations.

Mayfield is also keen to emphasise Colorado’s 300 annual days of sunshine, meaning there is a wide range of activities to sell, from white-water rafting and mountain biking to hiking in the Rockies and heritage attractions.

Ancient Indian sites

One positive outcome of the western US fires, which closed Colorado’s famous Mesa Verde National Park for some time, was the discovery of further archeological sites at the Anaszai Indian settlement dating back to 600 AD.

Several fires that affected the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisations’ World Heritage Cultural Park, close to the borders of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, exposed further ancient village sites within its 52,000 acres.

Marketing consortium Rocky Mountain International will update the trade on the full effects of the fires but reports all parks, accommodation and facilities are now operating normally.

UK director Kate Russell-Cobb said: “Most damage was restricted to areas not used by visitors. Some ranches located adjacent to these lands closed temporarily.”

Russell-Cobb and director of RMI programmes Susan Maxwell will be at the show representing the states of Montana, Idaho, South Dakota and Wyoming.

At the summit: Colorado is keen to promoteoutdoor options, such as hiking