The Dubois County Visitors Center & Tourism Commission is celebrating National Tourism Week and Visit Indiana Week with a Spring Tourism Open House on Thursday, May 8, 2008 from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. EDT at their office in Jasper, located at 2704 Newton Street.

Tourism office staff and board members will be on hand to greet guests, provide tours of the office, give a brief update and overview of the local tourism industry and inform local individuals how the tourism office can assist them. The event is free and open to the public. All tourism-related businesses and organizations, including event/festival committees, sports tournament organizers, hotel, restaurant, shop and attraction owners and employees are encouraged to attend. Likewise, any business or organization that brings in visitors from out of town or anticipates hosting conferences in Dubois County or anyone hosting a reunion or wedding should also make plans to attend.

“We encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about our local tourism industry to join us for an informative, yet relaxing, evening”, said Kristen Ruhe, executive director of the Visitors Center & Tourism Commission. “We have a variety of services to assist local individuals, including providing welcome packets, scheduling group itineraries, offering promotional items and more.”

Said Ruhe, “We have wonderful partnerships with many local individuals and groups, and this event provides yet another opportunity to strengthen our local tourism industry through awareness of the services we have to offer.”

For additional tourism information, please contact the Dubois County Visitors Center at 482-9115, go to www.visitduboiscounty.com, or stop by the office at 2704 Newton Street in Jasper.

The Dubois County Tourism Commission was established in 1992 by a Dubois County ordinance with the purpose of promoting the growth and development of the convention, visitor, and tourism industry in the county and is the one community organization empowered to do so. It is funded solely through a five percent innkeepers tax collected on overnight stays at Dubois County lodging facilities. The Commission established the operation of the Visitors Center in January 2006. Commission members meet regularly at 3:30 p.m. on the first Monday of each month at the Visitors Center located at 2704 Newton Street in Jasper. These meetings are open to the public. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.