Visit Nelson County

Fish Virginia Fishing First Tourism Initiative
Unveiled LIVE on ESPN Outdoors!!

ESPN Outdoors Hosts the Unveiling of New
Regional Marketing Partnership

On
April 26, at the ESPN Outdoors/Bassmaster Advance Auto Blue Ridge Brawl on
Smith Mountain Lake, Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, US Congressman Tom Perriello,
Virginia Deputy Secretary of Commerce & Trade David Smith, leaders from
over 14 Virginia communities, and the hosts of ESPN Outdoors ìHooked Upî Mark
Zona and Tommy Sanders announced a new tourism initiative to highlight
Virginiaís freshwater fishing assets to a nation audience.  Lt. Governor
Bolling let it be known that a consortium of Virginia communities and travel
bureaus have been awarded funding through VTCís Live Passionately
Marketing Leverage Program for the Fish Virginia First!! initiative.   VTCís
marketing leverage program is designed to stimulate new tourism marketing
partnerships while extending VTCís Live Passionately marketing campaign.

The
Fish Virginia First!! initiative will develop a collaborative promotional
effort (online, collateral materials, targeted tournament hosting, and
aggressive marketing of the stateís assets to outdoor oriented television shows
and series) making it easier for visitors and event planners to find, and then
enjoy, Virginiaís rivers, lakes, trout streams, and major reservoirs.  This
will be accomplished by marketing the Commonwealthís outstanding fishing
destinations and then linking visitors with local hotels, restaurants,
campgrounds, and fishing related businesses that can make fishing trips easy
and fun. Tourism in Virginia is an $18.7 billion per year industry and supports
210,000 Virginia jobs contributing $4.3 billion in payroll and salaries.  A
series of trails will be developed that anglers will be able to search online
thus making finding great fishing easier, and more customer friendly.

From
televised professional bass fishing tournaments, guided fishing trips on some
of the regionís top trophy waters, and families enjoying casting a line while
on vacation, fishing is a Virginia tradition enjoyed by millions.  In 2007,
over $800 million was spent in Virginia on items and activities directly
related to freshwater sport fishing.  The average professional bass tournament
on a major river or reservoir can generate up to $1 million in economic impact
while Virginiaís catchable trout program generates significant influxes of anglers
to remote and pastoral streams in the winter months.

“The
most critical issue currently facing Virginia is the need to get our economy
moving again and create jobs.  Aggressively promoting tourism opportunities
like the Fish Virginia First!! initiative is an important part of that effort. 
Virginia provides anglers with a number of quality fishing opportunities,
whether it is salt water fishing off the coast of Virginia or freshwater
fishing in our beautiful rivers and lakes.  I’m proud to be a part of the Fish
Virginia First effort, and I hope everyone will take some time to enjoy the
great fishing opportunities Virginia has to offer.”  Lt. Governor Bill
Bolling

Fish
Virginia First!! marks the first inter-jurisdictional marketing effort seeking
to link the top Virginia fisheries with anglers, travelers, outdoor television
networks, and tournament organizers from across the nation.  The initiativeís
goal is to better inform anglers, vacationers, and fishing tournament
organizers of the outstanding fisheries available in the Commonwealthís rivers,
lakes, streams, and reservoirs.  Partners in the Fish Virginia First!!
Initiative thus far include: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries,
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Roanoke Convention &
Visitors Bureau, Roanoke Regional Partnership, City of Danville, City &
County of Bedford Tourism, Lexington/Rockbridge County Area Tourism, Amherst
County, Pulaski County, Franklin County, Lynchburg Convention and Visitors
Bureau, Botetourt County, Grayson County, Wise County Office of Tourism and
City of Norton, Nelson County, Campbell County, Town and County of Appomattox, 
Tazewell County, and Alleghany Highlands Chamber of
Commerce/Tourism.               

ìCoastal
communities prudently spend millions each year marketing their beaches. 
Southern and Southwest Virginiaís fishing assets are of a national quality in
terms of trophy fisheries, guide services, and event hosting potential.  This
initiative will elevate Virginiaís fisheries in the national marketplace. 
Weíre fired up to spread the word that anglers should Fish Virginia First!!î
David Smith, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Commerce & Trade

For
more information on Fish Virginia First, visit the website www.fishvirginiafirst.com