5-6-14 tourism spending-fdl

The president of the Fond du lac convention and visitors bureau says the latest tourism spending figures show that efforts to brand the community as a place to "Come On In"  and visit are paying off. Figures released by the state department of tourism show that tourism spending in Fond du lac totaled $119 million last year up

more than 7.5 percent.  Convention and visitors bureau president Craig Molitor says a branding initiative launched in the last couple of years has focused on four reasons to make Fond du Lac a tourist destination. "The fact that we're on Lake Winnebago, we're an inexpensive place to have a meeting or go on vacation, there are a lot of things to do in this area and finally its our location,"  Molitor told AM 1170 WFDL's Between the Lines program.  "By some estimations 70 percent of the population of Wisconsin can get to Fond du lac within an hour."   Molitor says tourism spending last year was also given a boost by several groups that hosted events in Fond du lac..including the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers,  a state men's bowling tournament, and an ice dancing competition.