Q-C marketed as tourist destination

While tourism in the Quad-Cities probably will never reach the levels of a Las Vegas or an Orlando, local officials are certain the region's reputation as a tourist destination will grow throughout the 21st century.

Staff photo Events like the Bix 7 road race draw thousands of people to the Quad-Cities every year, assisting in the drive to make the area a tourist destination.

``I can assure you that we are working hard to market and sell the Quad-Cities as a tourist destination,'' said Joe Taylor, president of the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau (QCCCB). ``There is a real trend right now for moving back to nature. The Quad-Cities has wonderful trails, woods and, of course, the Mississippi River. We have what many people are looking for.''

Gene Meeker, executive director of the Downtown Davenport Development Corporation, sees a bright future for tourism in the region.

``We have 2.1 million visitors come through Davenport a year,'' he said. ``Granted, lots of them come for the casinos, but many of them are visiting the ice skating arena, baseball stadium, conventions, theaters and concerts. There's a lot to do in Davenport, and we are working closely with the visitor's bureau to brink people in here.

``Tourism is a major industry,'' Mr. Meeker said. ``It enhances other economic development. By bringing people in to see attractions, they spend money at hotels, restaurants and stores. It's something we definitely want to capitalize on.''

Mr. Meeker cited the recent decison to relocate the Davenport Museum of Art and construction of an IMAX movie theater in Davenport as positive steps toward attracting out of town visitors to the area.

``If you look at most major cities, they have their art museums located downtown,'' Mr. Meeker said. ``By moving downtown, the museum expects to double its visitor count every year.''

The IMAX theater, scheduled to open in spring 2001, will seat 270 people and will be located between the Putnam and Davenport Museum of Art in central Davenport. Imax films are unique because they are shot on a 70-millimeter frame -- 10 times larger than a conventional frame.

``Having Iowa's first IMAX theater located in the Quad-Cities is very exciting and should bring in out-of-towners,'' Mr. Meeker said. ``Right now, people have to go to Navy Pier in Chicago to enjoy an Imax movie.''

Trish Pyszka, marketing assistant for The District in Rock Island, believes the amenities offered in the Quad-Cities, specifically in The District, will continue to be a large attraction to the Quad-Cities.

To help bring in those guests, The District is working closely with the QCCCB and placing response cards in high-profile locations like the John Deere Commons in Moline.

``We have gotten a lot of responses from those cards,'' Ms. Pyszka said. ``People from far-off places like Colorado have expressed interest in the Quad-Cities.''

``The atmosphere here in The District is unlike any other place in the area,'' Ms. Pyszka said. ``You really have to go to Cancun to get an atmosphere similar to what we have here. You can see plays here, attend summer festivals, eat great pizza, whatever.''

Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley is another attraction positioning itself to bring more tourists to the area. ``We are in the midst of a major plan to expand Niabi Zoo and make it a world-class small zoo,'' Alan Ross, president of the Niabi Zoo Society said. ``A quality zoo can be a major tourist attraction, and we are trying to position ourselves to bring that kind of zoo to the Quad-Cities. When our improvements are complete, Niabi Zoo will be important to tourism. We just want to take our time and do it right.''