Evangeline Parish named as a certified tourism center

The Evangeline Parish Tourism Center has officially become a certified tourism center after the organization recently became certified by the state. The center is currently located in the Evangeline Chamber of Commerce office, located on Main St. in Ville Platte.
Local Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Renee Brown said this certification will allow the tourism commission to “qualify for new products to boost tourism in Evangeline Parish through the Louisiana tourism industry.”
First order of business according to Brown since becoming a certified tourism center will consist of highlighting 10 things to do under $10 in Evangeline Parish, which will appear on the tourism website. The website is set to launch sometime in 2019.
In addition, Brown said the Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Board are working on preparing itineraries to give visitors ideas on where to go and what to do in Evangeline Parish.
Brown said, “Visitors will be able to go to the website and click on the itineraries and plan their trip. This keeps things in the hands of the traveler so they can be in charge of their experience in our parish. We want to help people utilize all the wonderful and fantastic things Evangeline Parish has to offer. That’s the mission we want to accomplish.”
Another goal, according to Brown, that she hopes to accomplish consists of informing parish residents about what Evangeline Parish has to offer in terms of tourism.
Brown said, “We want to remind the people here that there really is so much here to do. And remind them of things we often take for granted.”
The new tourism website has been redesigned in an effort to showcase all of the local attractions Evangeline Parish has to offer, such as Chicot State Park, Crooked Creak Recreational Area, Lakeview Park and Beach and more.
“Our website will be new,” said Brown. “We are using it to help change the direction of where people go to get tourism information. We are also looking to broaden people’s experience through our parish and we believe this is going to do that.”
In addition to all these new things, Brown, along with several others including Brecky Lavigne and Suzy Lemoine, have begun work on assembling an arts council called Evangeline’s Arts Council, which will be housed at the Chamber of Commerce Office.
Instructor for art classes and other art activities will be local artist Brecky Lavigne. Look for more information on the arts council in the near future.
Brown said, “With all of these wonderful things happening in Evangeline Parish, we are just trying to broaden travelers’ experience so they can fall in love with the many things we have fallen in love with over the years.”