The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-09-14
COUNTY TOURIST
BUREAU BEGINS
FUND CAMPAIGN
Planning to Spend $4,000 to
Advertise Dare County
During Coming Year

The fund raising phase of the
plan for establishment of a Dare
County Tourist Bureau to handle
a full-time, impartial program of
publicity and advertising for the
county as a whole, gained impetus
this week.
The first of nearly one hundred
letters, signed by newly elected
chairman Lawrence L. Swain, of
the Tourist Bureau, and addressed
to wholesalers in Norfolk, Eliza
beth City and other nearby cities,
were mailed early this week. The
letters, outlining the proposal for
operation of the Tourist Bureau,
urged the wholesalers to invest in
the program, calling to their at
/ tention the fact that they share in
the financial benefits from the
tourist business here, yet are not
required to share in the costs
i through payment of county taxes,
as are local business concerns.
In meeting Tuesday night the
Mays Head Chamber of Commerce,
which has already pledged $1,000
toward the costs of the program
for the fiscal year beginning Octo-
Der first, formulated a plan for col
!lecting this amount, and possibly
even more. A system of assess
ment, whereby each hotel, tourist
court or rooming house owner
would invest five dollars per room
toward the program, restaurant
owners would invest one dollar per
seat, fishing guides would invest
fifteen dollars each, and other BUSH
nesses would invest on a similar
basis, was adopted. And commit
tee was appointed to call on every
member of the chamber, explain
the Tourist Bureau program and
aims, and collect the assessed a.
mount.
The program was also under dis
cussion Monday night, at the Kitty
Hawk Civic Club meeting, and
Wednesday night at the Dare Bea-
ches Chamber of Commerce meet
ing, with similar discussions plan
ned for Hatteras Island and the
mainland in the near future.
A budget of 100000 for the
first year of operation has been
adopted by the directors of the
Tourist Bureau, five of whom are
appointed by the county commits
sioners from the various town
; ships, and five from the three
Chambers of Commerce, the Town
} of Manteo and the Lost Colony.
Already total of nearly $1,000
has been pledged toward the SO
) 10000 goal, and it was stressed
this week by chairman Swain that
the full goal would have to be rea-
ched by the end of this month if
.. the program is to be adopted for
the coming year.
A special request was made to
any individuals, business establish
ments or groups in the county, who
are not otherwise participating in
the program, to make whatever
investment they think worthwhile
Money thus received will be de-
: posted in a special account by the
< County Commissioners and all
: checks will be signed by the Secre-
: tary-T Treasurer of the Bureau, and
E countersigned by the Chairman Of
the County Commissioners.
During the first year of opera
; ton the Tourist Bureau will con-
centrate on three projects: First
e the hiring of a qualified, full-time
a publicity director to publicize all
of Dare County on an impartial ba-
sis; second, the establishment of 9
central office for the discrimination
of tourist information; and third
the printing of an attractive folder
or brochure which will be made
: available to all Chambers of Com
J merce, hotels and other establish.
: ments for distribution to prospect
Z; i've visitors to Dare.