By MIKE O'ROURKE
Associate Editor
EAST GULL LAKE -Gov. Tim Pawlenty praised the tourism industry's
willingness to embrace technology Thursday as he addressed the Explore
Minnesota Tourism Conference at Cragun's Conference and Golf Resort.
The three-day conference featured presentations on using Web sites and
consumer-generated content to attract tourists to specific
destinations.
Pawlenty described how younger generations rely heavily on new
technology to learn more about a variety of subjects. Young people, he
said, spend about half of their waking hours interacting with
televisions, iPods, cell phones and MySpace.
He cited a favorite quote that exemplified how change is necessary in
order for any enterprise to flourish: "The things that got us here
will not get us there." Massive changes in demographics, culture and
technology call for new approaches, he said.
"This generation gets information learns in fundamentally different
ways than we did," Pawlenty told the audience. "They learn and gather
information like we didn't."
The governor noted the importance of energy, faith, optimism and
marketing in the success of any venture. He also said politicians have
to back up good intentions they articulate for the tourism industry.
"Deeds and money have to back up excitement and enthusiasm," he said.
His budget for tourism, he said, calls for a 20 to 40 percent increase
compared to the last budget, an amount he described as a significant
step up. The variance in numbers, Pawlenty said, is because the amount
of the increase depends upon how it's calculated.
"We'll push that really hard in the Legislature," he said.
The importance of partnering with other businesses and with civic
events, such as the state's upcoming sesquicentennial, was emphasized
by Pawlenty. He also urged resort and hospitality business people to
communicate with their lawmakers and "gently" hold them accountable.
"You should be good about telling us what should be done," Pawlenty
said.
Pawlenty's speech came at the conclusion of a three-day conference at
the resort that attracted more than 300 people.
The state's chief executive was introduced by Dutch Cragun, owner of
the host resort. Cragun praised Pawlenty for initiating the first
governor's deer hunting opener and creating the Explore Minnesota
Tourism Council.
"Gov. Tim is the first governor to appoint a permanent committee to
advise him," Cragun said.
Pawlenty opened his remarks by attributing the success of Cragun's to
the work ethic of both Dutch and his wife, Irma. The governor recalled
checking into the resort at about 2 a.m. as a first-time gubernatorial
candidate the clerk to relay a message to Dutch. He was told that the
resort owner was working in his office if he wanted to talk to him
personally.
"He's great," Pawlenty said of Dutch, "but Irma's even better."
MIKE O'ROURKE can be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or
855-5860. |
