Outdoors, Spuds Make Idaho Popular Destination

Natural beauty, friends and family, and potatoes are the biggest draws for those thinking of visiting Idaho, according to a new survey.

Militias and Mark Fuhrman didn’t even register.

The survey was conducted by telephone in Las Vegas, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Sacramento and Portland.

The CPS Consulting survey polled people over age 18 who plan to take a vacation in the next 12 months. They were asked what comes to mind when they think of Idaho. This year’s results were potatoes, natural beauty, snow skiing, and friends and family. The answers to the same question in a similar study in 1990 were outdoor features, lack of crowds, quality of life, and potatoes.

Based on the survey, the Idaho Travel Council agreed Wednesday to transfer ads and TV spots run in Sacramento to Salt Lake City, where they appear to be more successful.

The ad campaign will run for four weeks in March and will stress Idaho’s natural beauty. Winter advertising efforts in Seattle and Portland will be continued, encouraging people to ski in Idaho.

Respondents to the survey also were asked about their motivation to visit Idaho, their travel habits, and if or when they plan to visit the Gem State.

Of the people who did not plan to visit Idaho, the reasons specified were unfamiliarity with the state and lack of attractions or activities.

Tourism in Montana and Wyoming did not seem to be a threat to Idaho’s visitor industry.

Bob Templin, owner of Templin’s Resort Hotel in Post Falls, cited the exchange rate between U.S. and Canadian currency as the greatest threat to North Idaho tourism.

“People are going to go where they are going to enjoy their vacation and get the most bang for their dollar,” said Templin.

Templin foresees great benefits to tourism with the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, to be held in Salt Lake City.

He also noted that despite the survey’s findings, the largest tourist market for North Idaho is Washington.

“People come to Idaho for family time; it’s not a hustle-bustle atmosphere,” said Templin.

, DataTimes