STATE TOURISM ASSOCIATION AND BALL STATE STUDENTS

TEAM UP TO LAUNCH INDIANA 500 TOUR

Five hundred miles of Indiana's byways featuring transportation heritage, motor sports and nostalgic dining spots are highlighted on a new tourism trip idea that launches May 11 during the state's "Visit Indiana Week."

The project - a collaboration between the Association of Indiana Convention and Visitors Bureaus (AICVB) and an immersive learning class at Ball State University - will annually identify a suggested "Indiana 500 Tour" travel route throughout the state that highlights a special theme.

The 2010 theme, "Transportation," features a circle of travel opportunities that include Indianapolis, Lafayette, Kokomo, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Muncie and Richmond.

The Indiana 500 Tour is the brainchild of Rep. Wes Culver (R-Goshen), who wanted to create an economic development opportunity for local communities as well as to feature some of the state's travel treasures. More than a year of planning between the two entities, with Rep. Culver as honorary chair, has gone into the program's development. The AICVB also has had the support of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development in the project.

"Synergism is when the total effect is greater than the sum of individual parts," Culver said.  "The convention and visitors bureaus across the state could not accomplish separately what we can accomplish as a team and with the skills of the students and faculty at Ball State. By working together, we will tell visitors what Indiana has to offer, and we all will benefit.  And not only will tourism grow, but so will other supporting businesses."

While the 2010 theme will focus on the parts of Indiana that have most of the Hoosier state's automotive heritage, northern and central Indiana, the 2011 theme will focus on Indiana's early history and highlight primarily southern Indiana, Culver said. Each year's tour suggestion will stay on the www.Indiana500Tour.com web site and give Hoosiers and out-of-state visitors new trip ideas. Eventually, travelers to Indiana can go to the site and find a number of themes and itineraries.

The tour officially launches 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 11 at four locations throughout the state that are on the tour: Elkhart County (Amish Acres, Nappanee); Kokomo/Howard County (Automotive Heritage Museum, Kokomo); Lafayette-West Lafayette (John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge, Lafayette); and Richmond/Wayne County (Old National Road State Welcome Center).

"Even though we are launching the program during National Tourism Week, the Indiana 500 Tour is designed to go all year long, with many weeks having a special interest group promoted.  For example, we may have Motorcycle Week, Recreational Vehicle Week, Bicycle Week, Antique Car Week, Senior Week, etc.," Culver added. "It's an opportunity to showcase Indiana to those groups who already are traveling the state and provide them with a new way of coordinating their trips."

Those who travel parts of the Indiana 500 Tour can tweet about their experiences on a Twitter account, @in500tour, or follow a blog contributed by fellow travelers who travel the tour, in500tour.tumblr.com.

The creative materials, logo, creative, web site, GIS mapping and social media sites were developed by a team of 14 Ball State students from various majors. This immersive learning experience provided the students with a real-world opportunity to help shape a tourism economic development program. In addition to faculty mentors, various convention and visitors bureaus throughout the state, which formed a steering committee on the project, provided professional guidance.