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The high cost of gasoline may have a lot of Nebraskans vacationing closer to home this summer and Independence Day. There is a lot for the family to see and do in Nebraska and I would like to invite you to visit my website, www.bennelson.senate.gov, and click on the tab marked "Explore Nebraska" to help plan your trip.
The webpage pinpoints a few of the most interesting and fun places to visit across Nebraska. Some are very well known like Fort Robinson State Park, which is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Others are less known like Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, which had only 14,000 visitors in 2005 but is certainly worth being seen by many, many more. Hopefully, my website will interest a lot more people in taking the short drive to some truly amazing destinations.
Once again employing the interactive technology of Google Maps like I used to virtually take Nebraskans along with me as I toured Iraq last April, all you need to do is click on a stickpin and the map will move from place to place. You can even ask it for driving directions so you will know how to get there and how long it will take.
When you click on the stickpin, a dialogue box will also pop up showing a picture of the tourist attraction and telling you a little about it. A telephone number and other contact information are also listed.
As a Nebraskan and avid outdoorsman, I am very proud of our state and like to show it off every chance I get. I have been promoting tourism efforts since I was Governor. In fact, in 1996 the travel and tourism industry took a big step forward with the production of the first Tourism Industry Development Plan since 1975.
That plan provided numerous recommendations for the development of attractions, events and other important tourism components in the state and as a result tourism has become a booming industry in Nebraska. Tourism is Nebraska's third largest source of revenue behind agriculture and manufacturing.
As an example of just how much the travel and tourist industry is worth to the state, revenue from tourism has more than doubled since I became Governor. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development reports that in 1990 travelers spent about $1.5 billion in Nebraska on trips away from home with overnight stays in paid accommodations and on day trips to places 100 miles or more away. In 2005, the number more than doubled to $3.1 billion.
Whether it's a weekend getaway, a 4th of July family reunion, or a weeklong family vacation, I hope you will visit my website, plan your trip, save a little money on gas, and Explore Nebraska!
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