Wichita Falls tourism expected to increase in 2013

This weekend's Home and Garden Show is just one example of the many community events which help generate funds for the City of Wichita Falls.

However, how much do those types of events really help?

Lindsay Greer, Director of the Wichita Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau, says the city expects to see a slight increase in tourism and visitors spending in 2013.

For example, the Home and Garden Show is expected to attract lots of people to Texoma.

Greer says while Wichita Falls may not be an ideal travel destination, events like this one keep the tourism dollars rolling in.

"I think the little events always help," Greer says. "This building, the MPEC facility, is always got events going on. Those do offset the major concerts. Everything we do is so driven around events. We are very much an event-oriented city."

Greer says many events start rolling through town starting from mid-February through the end of August.

In addition, while events like the Coin and Stamp Show or the Home and Garden Show may not bring in the big bucks, the revenue from all the event does add up.

They may not be staying the night in our hotels but they are still here spending the entire day at the Home and Gardern show, they're still eating in the restaurants, they're probably going to fill up with gas before they head back to town; so all of those things do generate taxes for the city," Greer says.

Greer encourages locals and visitors to support the local economy.

"Spend the weekend, spend an extra night, bring the family, go to the water park, take in a show at the theatre; so we really try to be creative and encourage people, if they're already here or planning on coming for an event, stretch it out and make a long weekend out of it," Greer says.

This weekend's events include: the Home and Garden Show at the MPEC, the Tornado Alley Racquetball Tournament at the Bill Bartley YMCA, the Lone Star Kart Nationals at the JS Bridwell Ag Center and a Wichita Falls Wildcats game at Kay Yeager Coliseum.

Also, Greer says ticket sales for the Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley concert on March 7 are going very well with about 70% of them already being sold.