Booked this Week---Literary Tourism

Certainly by now listeners have come to realize that there are many different types of  tourism—ecotourism, geotourism, sports tourism, heritage tourism and more. As Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast continues to bring our listeners the latest in tourism trends and information, hosts Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-Connors will keep you on the cutting edge of this fascinating industry.

What’s up this week? Literary Tourism. No, this does not mean that you have to pass a reading test or create a bibliography before going on your next vacation. Literary Tourism is defined as: a type of cultural tourism that deals with places and events from fictional texts as well as the lives of their authors. This could include following the route a fictional character charts in a novel, visiting particular settings from a story or tracking down the haunts of a novelist.

To explore this tourism segment, Gary and Robin have invited Stuart-based author Paul McElroy to share the airwaves. Paul has penned a number of great mystery novels, which include history, events, places and locations on the Treasure Coast. Some of Paul’s work includes Treasure Coast Deceit, Treasure Coast Gold and Treasure Coast Archipelago. Strap yourself in—Mr. McElroy is quite a character.

Next we'll find out if and how literary tourism impacts Treasure Coast libraries and book stores. Judi Snyder, Associate Director of Public Services at the Martin County Library System, will provide more insight on the library system's annual Book Mania!, which just completed its 16th year.

Each and every Talkin' Tourism helps keep you up on Treasure Coast events and happenings, Bahamas updates, giveaways and lots of fun. You never know what surprises are in store or what unannounced guests might make an unexpected appearance in our studio. Tune in to WPSL 1590 AM or http://www.wpsl.com/ this Friday (Feb 19) at 10 a.m. to enjoy the show (and fun) live from the Captain’s Lounge at Harborage Yacht Club and Marina.

Stuart Single Fin Showdown and St. Lucie Tourism Feb 20 Show Recap

Listeners of the Feb 20 Talkin' Tourism radio show, now know how surfing brought the show's host, Gary Guertin, to Stuart. The United Way of Martin County's first ever surfing contest--Stuart Single Fin Showdown--slated March 14 and 15 at Stuart Beach, is expected to attract several hundred surfing fans to the area.

Justin Beard, communications director of the United Way, host Gary Guertin and co-host Robin Hicks-Connors touch on the fact that the sport of surfing does have an impact on tourism.

For those listeners who might want to participate in the contest but don't have a board--no problem! Authentic 70s singlefin will be provided to all surfers who enter the competition, and to make it more challenging, those who advance into later rounds will have to ride a different singlefin during each heat. For more information on the surfing contest, click HERE.

Justin promises this is going to be a fun contest where surfers who normally rip on their modern tri-fin shortboard will have to adjust to surfing with a totally different style. Show host Gary Guertin has signed up to be a judge for the inaugural contest.

The second half of the show explores St. Lucie county tourism programs and funding. Charlotte Lombard, Tourism Development Manager for St. Lucie County, who by the way is an avid surfer, profiles where the county's 5% bed tax goes: first 3-cents goes to the Tradition Station operations; the second 1-cent goes to marketing; and the third 1-cent is divided 33.5% to tourism related capital projects, with the remaining 66.5% going to Tradition Stadium bonds.

George Byfield the CEO/Creative Director of Comet Creative, Inc., the advertising agency of record for St. Lucie County tourism programs, talks about his vision to create a "new" destination package to sell that brings tourists to both St. Lucie County and Grand Bahama. Officials have been speaking with Spirit Airlines and other air carriers to connect St. Lucie County International Airport to Grand Bahama, but no agreements are in place yet.

Expected call-in guest James Turner, Executive Vice-President of the Grand Bahama Tourism Promotion Board, wasn't able to join the group, but is expected to join a Grand Bahama delegation coming to St. Lucie County March 4 through March 7.

When the audio clip from Feb 20 show is available, it'll be posted here.

Breaking News! Columbus replica ships 'Pinta' and 'Nina' to land at Harborage Yacht Club in Stuart

Replicas of Columbus' ships the 'Nina' and the 'Pinta' will land in Stuart at Harborage Yacht Club and Marina on Wednesday, April 15 and be in port until April 22. The public is invited for walk-aboard self-guided tours, during the seven days, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The 'Nina' was built completely by hand and without the use of power tools. Archaeology magazine refers to the 'Nina' as the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built. The 'Nina' was used in the production of the film 1492, starring Gerard Depardieu and directed by Ridley Scott.

The 'Pinta' was recently built in Brazil to accompany the 'Nina' on all of her travels. She is a larger version of the archetypal caravel and offers more deck space for tours. Her 900 square foot main salon will host slide shows of both ships' construction. The 'Pinta' is also available for private parties while in port.

Both ships offer an enhanced 'sailing museum,' educating the public and school children on the 'Caravel,' a Portuguese ship used by Columbus and many early explorers to discover the world.

Tour prices are $7 for adults; $6 for seniors; $5 for children; and children under 4 are free. No reservations necessary.

Teachers who wish to schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crew member, should e-mail: columfnd@surfbvi.com. For more information, visit www.thenina.com.

Inaugural Show!

LIVE from the Captain's Lounge of the Harborage Yacht Club and Marina, this week's guests included Tom Colucci, executive director of the Treasure Coast Sports Commission, and Alyse Caldwell, co-owner of Captain Chris Yacht Services and also co-producer of the 2009 Stuart Boat Show Trawler Expo.

Special thanks to cohost Robin Hicks-Connors, president and chief executive officer of the Martin County Historical Society, who'll be onboard as cohost for the next several weeks.

Tom Colucci commended Martin County on the asset of Halpatiokee Regional Park and suggested a Florida-Bahamas golf challenge introduced a few years ago needs to be revived. Let's find the trophy!

Alyse reported that boat show and Trawler Expo attendees came from as far away as Novia Scotia, Maine and Alabama. Seminars this year ranged from provisioning, how to protect your skin from the sun, to hands-on demonstrations on how to dock a boat. A great beginning for this inaugural segment to the Stuart Boat Show.

Listen to 'Talkin' Tourism' every Friday on WPSL 1590 AM in the 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. timeslot. Send your comments, suggestions and tourism news to talkintourism@gmail.com.