Selling Travel June 19

60
the review: trade show report
High five on show out west
The 25th International Roundup (IRU) took place in Spearfish,
South Dakota, in the state’s Black Hills country. Steve Hartridge,
the only UK trade journalist at the show, rounds up the news
APRIL 28-
MAY 1, 2019
IRU is ‘essential’
REGIONAL tourism shows
like IRU remain an essential
shop window for some of
the U.S.’s less-visited states,
said tourism officials.
James Scoon, Director of
Global Sales and Services at
the Wyoming Office of
Tourism, said: “Many
excellent tourism products
just can’t afford to travel
over to meet with tour
operators in their own
countries. Through the
Great American West
consortium and IRU,
Wyoming can do so much
more in terms of outreach.”
Nancy Richardson,
International Trade Specialist
for Idaho Department of
Tourism, said: IRU is an
essential show as it brings
tour operators with a
“proven passion for the
region” together with
destinations and products
looking to attract more
international visitors.
“Our Great American West
country offices (including KBC
in the UK) do a great job in
bringing buyers here that
understand the region. That
makes our own tourism
suppliers very comfortable
and focused in the meetings.”
On the tourism trails
TOUR operators from 10 important to South Dakota and
countries gathered in Spearfish,
South Dakota (April 28-May 1), to
the region. We are not the bestknown
area in the U.S. but we
discover the latest tourism want to share the state with the
products and attractions in five world. We have great things here:
states: South Dakota, North national parks like the eerie
Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and
Idaho, a region collectively known
as the ‘Great American West’.
Badlands, where Mother Nature
is at her best; real Wild West
towns like Deadwood; wildlife in
The suppliers represented Custer State Park; and kayaking
interests that included hotels, and fishing on the Missouri River.”
ranches, scenic train rides, Marlee Iverson, International
museums, reptile parks, motor Travel Trade Manager for
cycle tours, Native American
attractions and even the largest
mountain carving in progress in
the world, the Crazy Horse
Memorial in South Dakota.
Montana Office of Tourism, said:
“IRU is always really good for us.
As a five-state association, we
collectively use our resources at
this show. We know that UK
UK tour operators at visitors interested in say, our
International Roundup (IRU) cowboy culture, Mount Rushmore
included America as You Like it National Memorial or Yellowstone
and Discover North America. National Park don’t really
Cole Irwin, Global Travel Trade recognise state borders.”
Director, South Dakota International Roundup
Department of Tourism, said IRU
provides the perfect showcase to
talk about “the many great things”
the state offers visitors.
“International tourism is very
contributes around $127 million
dollars in future visitor spend in
the five-state region, said Mathias
Jung, CEO of show organiser,Rocky
Mountain International.
SHOW SHORTS
GUNSLINGERS still
roam the streets of
Deadwood, South Dakota,
in the summer. Three live
‘shoot-outs’ take place
daily (except Sunday) on
Main Street. And each
evening sees a familyfriendly
re-enactment of
the capture and trial of
Jack McCall, who shot Wild
Bill Hickok, the famous
lawman and gambler.
deadwoodalive.com
RIDE the West Tours
offers guided Harley-
Davidson excursions –
from five to 10 days – on
the backroads of the
Northwest U.S. “We will be
making a big push in 2020
to attract the attention of
UK tour operators and
their agents,” said owner
Todd Godfrey.
ridethewesttours.com
HOT Springs, South
Dakota, is home to the
largest concentration of
mammoths in the world.
Visitors can tour an indoor
active dig and view fossils
that date from the Ice Age.
There’s also a hands-on
learning area for children.
mammothsite.org
IDAHO State Museum in
Boise explores the link
between Idaho’s people
and the landscapes they
live in via a series of
interactive galleries. history.
idaho.gov/location/museum
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