January 17, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tony O’Leary
304-558-2203, ext. 318
toleary@wvcommerce.com

 

Governor Manchin receives first official copy of 2007 State Travel Guide

The West Virginia Division of Tourism presented the first issue of the official 2007 State Travel Guide today to Governor Joe Manchin III in the Governor’s Reception Room at the state Capitol.

Department of Commerce Secretary Kelly Goes presented Manchin with the first 2007 guide. The free 240-page booklet contains hundreds of photographs, stories, suggested itineraries and event listings about the tourism industry’s many offerings around West Virginia.

“The Travel Guide is one of the best ways to show potential visitors and vacation planners the best our state has to offer. Between the brilliant photography and the professionally written stories, the Travel Guide brings to life all the most-sought places to the hidden gems,” Goes said.

The Travel Guide features attractions and events in each of the state’s nine travel regions with listings for accommodations, campgrounds, restaurants, parks, shops, galleries, museums and other special places. The guide has a Calendar of Events section that spotlights fairs, festivals, performances, historical re-enactments and more. An online version of the entire Travel Guide -- including all pages, listings and ads, with links -- will be posted on the state's official travel site, www.callwva.com, later this month.

The Travel Guide was published in cooperation with Miles Media Inc., which produced the 2005 travel guide. The 2005 guide was named Best Travel Guide in the Nation by the Travel Industry Association of America and won a silver Adrian Award from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International. The Division annually distributes more than 350,000 Travel Guides.

“This is the state's primary vacation planning guide," said Tourism Commissioner Betty Carver. “We send them free to thousands of callers and Web site visitors and hand them out at our Welcome Centers and at travel shows across the country and even internationally. Miles Media has done another outstanding job with this year’s edition.”

To request a free copy of the new guide, contact the Division of Tourism at 1-800-CALL WVA or visit the tourism web site at www.callwva.com

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