Tourism Forum Comes to Brainerd

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar will hold forums on tourism in Duluth and the Brainerd Lakes area Wednesday, May 27. She chaired a Senate hearing on the tourism industry last week in Washington.

Klobuchar said the two forums are an opportunity to examine the challenges and opportunities facing Minnesota's travel and tourism industry in the midst of the current economic downturn.

Minnesota's lone senator says she wants to make sure tourism continues to a strong, vital part of our economy, drawing visitors from across the country and around the world.

According to an Explore Minnesota survey of 350 lodging and camping businesses across the state, half expect business this summer to continue at normal levels, with 32 percent anticipating occupancy to match last summer and 21 percent expecting an increase in occupancy.

The Brainerd forum will be held 1 p.m. at the Lodge at Brainerd Lakes. Klobuchar will be joined by the Director of Explore Minnesota, John Edman.