Re: Attracting Tourists

I just can't help myself here...I must make a response to this and other threads about marketing and attracting tourists.
Everything I see on this board and others is 'backwards'!
All the ideas on marketing come with a built in, 'profile of limitations' that says...what about crew hours, and what about facilities and schedules? This thinking is backwards.
A good marketing plan first, recognizes that people can't/won't ride the train unless tourists....KNOW IT'S THERE. That is the first objective...to let tourists know that it is THERE!
The major auto artery from LaVeta Pass, through Alamosa, to Wolf Creek Pass is untouched by marketing for the C&TS.
More than half of the marketing from any good tourist operation comes from FREE publicity by distribution of a good Press Kit, with FREE information, still pictures, and video to publicise the operation...and get free publicity from newspapers, magazines and television. This has never been done to my knowledge.
Fresh thinking is required by people not emotionally invested in this railroad...either paid for assistance or volunteer efforts.
Ever run a multimillion dollar ad campaign? I have. They can work, and even though those kind of resources are not available here, there are creative solutions that can make up much of the slack.
Fresh solutions to the marketing issue is what is necessary here...not 'limited thinking'.