Muscatine, US (TAN): This picturesque town in Iowa state of the US has got a tourist boost with a bowling championship taking place here.
Over the past three weekends, Muscatine has seen hundreds of people from all over the state eating, shopping and staying at the local hotels so that they may enjoy the Iowa State US Bowling Congress Open Championship.
With nearly 1,000 teams visiting, the town will likely see a spurt in local sales over the next 12 weeks, which also means a plus for the local tourism industry.
[ALSO READ: Gun violence cloud over tourist safety in Tobago]
“The event will bring close to 5,000 bowlers plus their families to Muscatine,” Jodi Hansen, director of the Muscatine Convention and Visitors Bureau, told the Muscatine Journal. “The Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Chamber will work on determining the economic impact.”
For a total of 15 weeks (February 2 – May 19, 2019), the US Bowling Congress members from across the state are competing in team, doubles, and singles play for tournament prizes. This year, Rose Bowl on Grandview Avenue in the Southend is hosting the tournament.
[ALSO READ: Cape Town jazz festival to promote tourism in local township]
Muscatine will also host the Iowa US Bowling Congress Women’s State Tournament next year and it will be played again at Rose Bowl.
For all the out-of-town visitors, the Merrill Hotel and Conference Center in downtown Muscatine is the designated tournament hotel.
[ALSO READ: Indonesia to close Komodo Island through 2020 to renew dragon population]
But hotels aren’t the only businesses benefitting from the immense traffic of tourists. Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Chamber is also working with local restaurants to promote spending by offering discounts to tournament participants.
A link to the Visit Muscatine tourism portal is also included on the bowling association webpage.