Eco-tourism and Beaver Festivals

Saturday afternoon saw the convergence of an estimated (by the national parks count) 250 people down at the beaver creek. Those of us who were there and working barely had time to breath, say the word ‘tour’ and folks flocked, tee shirts were a big hit and as those who visit our website know there were plenty of kids walking around with beaver tails. By all accounts it was a huge success, false modesty aside.

But why is it I feel like that’s a bad thing? Why would it be bad for a homegrown festival to flourish and bring business and visitors to our downtown business district?

There’s something to be said about a Governor who once was an actor; they get it when it comes to understanding the value of marketing. I like Schwarzenegger’s ‘find yourself here’ television campaign, the images are bright, fun and inviting. As a matter of fact I visited California’s travel and tourism website just to poke around. But unfortunately what I found there was a bit discouraging. So here’s this great ad campaign and website but when you search for things to do in Martinez, you come up with two choices for dining, Carrows and McDonalds, one choice for lodging, Best Western (who could argue that) and three points of interest, John Muir National Historic Site, Martinez Museum and Pine Meadows Golf Course.

So how are we promoting Martinez as a destination? Well there’s a bit of a mixed bag of stuff, we got air time on The Bone. Great coup – but what are the demographics, males 25-54. According to the sales guy at the Bone the listeners are into motorcycles, big boats, real down to earth kinda guys with cash (be still my beating single heart) but unless Kick Back got a few custom bike sales as a result, what did it net the city?

Then there’s the biannual event, the Peddlers Faire. Unlike the ad for Martinez real estate, this isn’t the Bay Area’s best kept secret. I have a dear friend who lives in Alameda and is an avid electric train collector and loves kodachrome slides. Graham can spend hours going through boxes looking for just the right slice of life depictions. Oh and heaven help us if he finds a series where ferries, steamers or trains are depicted. Anyway my point is, the Point (as in Alameda) is a monthly event folks flock to from all over and they’re the types who attend our Peddlers Faire, particularly since it’s advertised in the handouts.

Now that Martinez has a unique opportunity to capitalize on something that has captured international attention, how are we responding, with bickering and sniping? What would it matter if the beavers moved out tomorrow or five years from now? Instead of worrying about whose idea it was to have a festival, shouldn’t the common goal be promoting the City of Martinez as more than a criminal courts destination?

Martinez has the opportunity to develop a niche market for itself, spring board off the John Muir relationship and develop its own special brand of eco-tourism. I could see license plates highlighting wetland and watershed awareness with the different animals that inhabit them, like beavers. California has whale tails why can’t Martinez have beaver tails? Martinez could get listed on Watchable Wildlife’s website as previously highlighted by Heidi Perryman and then maybe our city might have something to tout in terms of points of interest on California’s travel and tourism website.

But we’ll all have to lay aside our own personal agendas and put our city ahead of our ego.