Kansas Visitors Guide and Calendar of Events Now Available!

Visitors to Kansas, and Kansans themselves, will find two new state publications to be excellent resources for everything there is to see and do in the Sunflower State.

The 2009 Kansas Visitors Guide and the 2009 Kansas Calendar of Events are published by the Travel & Tourism Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce. Both publications are available right now at travel centers statewide and online at TravelKS.com.

Tourism is estimated to be a $5.4 billion industry in Kansas, according to state tourism officials. As the state’s most popular travel publications, the Kansas Visitor’s Guide and Calendar of Events are essential elements in the state’s marketing efforts.

“We’re always excited to release new editions of the Kansas Visitors Guide and Kansas Calendar of Events,” said Becky Blake, Director of the Travel & Tourism Division. “This year’s editions are better than ever, thanks to some great new features.”

The Kansas Visitors Guide highlights the newly designated Freedom’s Frontier
National Heritage Area, which offers visitors a glimpse back in time at Kansas’ rich history leading up to the Civil War, as well as the majestic Flint Hills and the wildlife refuges of western Kansas. The 156-page Visitors Guide also features two brand new sections, including “Are We There Yet?” which focuses on kid-friendly trips, and “Essential Kansas,” which highlights the state’s top destinations.

The Kansas Calendar of Events is a 22-page all-inclusive listing of events taking place in Kansas in 2009. From big-city shows to small-town festivals, the Calendar of Events is the most comprehensive source of Kansas happenings –– and a must-read for travelers.

“The Kansas Lottery is proud to produce revenue which helps support tourism in our great state,” said Kansas Lottery Executive Director Ed Van Petten. “These new publications are excellent examples of ways to increase travel expenditures in Kansas.”

The Visitor’s Guide is published every two years, while the Calendar of Events is published annually. With breathtaking photography, lively editorial and informative itinerary building tools, the two publications together are the best source of Kansas travel-related information available. To pick up your free copies, visit your local travel information center or convention and visitors bureau, log on to TravelKS.com or call (800) 2KANSAS.

The Kansas Lottery has a positive impact on the state’s economy by supporting activities of the Travel & Tourism Division of the Kansas Department of Commerce, including the new Kansas Visitors Guide. Funding for Travel & Tourism marketing activities comes from the Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF), which is derived from Kansas Lottery proceeds.