Lincoln County, OR,  December 10, 1999 �  Rather than just looking back at the lower-than-desired visitor numbers for 1999, the Central Oregon Coast Association (COCA)  is focusing on bringing visitors to the coast by hosting an intensive two-day Oregon Coast Rural Tourism Workshops February 28-29 at the Westin Salishan in Gleneden Beach (Oregon).  �In the true tradition of �getting things done� here on the Oregon Coast, we�re gathering a host of great speakers and industry people talking about growing our visitor industry,� notes COCA Executive Director Guy DiTorrice.  �This will be two solid days of hands-on workshops, panel discussions and speakers  focused  on bringing more visitors to the Oregon Coast AND keeping them coming back.�

Keynote speakers for the Oregon Coast Rural Tourism Workshops include Jack McGowan, Executive Director for Stop Oregon Litter & Vandalism (SOLV) discussing �Protecting What Makes Oregon Attractive� as well as Oregon Tourism Executive Director, Todd Davidson, on �Where�s Oregon Tourism Going?�   Major presentations  include �Arts IS Tourism�, a  research briefing on the Oregon Coast visitor, �Travel News Media Tips� and strategic promotional packaging.

Workshop topics include:

• Advertising 101 � �What to Say�
• Effective Internet  -- �Website�s Built. . .Now What?�
• ECO-Logic Practices � �Practical Applications for Business�
• Scenic Byways Promotions � �What�s It Do For Me?�
• Lewis & Clark � Bicentennial Impacts for the Coast
• Agency Focus � �Working with State & Federal Parnters�
• �Signing Made Simple� --- How to get signs done on the Coast
• Special Events � �Getting them Done�

Registration for the two-day Oregon Coast Rural Tourism Workshops is $125 per person, $200 for two people from the same organization.  Registration includes meals and all workshops materials.  A special �early-bird� offer provides a free [no-line/no waiting] Sunday pass and commemorative glass for the Newport Seafood & Wine Festival to all participants registering before January 31.

In addition to the two days of workshops and presentations, COCA is also hosting a selection of evening events for participants.  A bay cruise with Marine Discovery Tours, an after-hours tour of the Hatfield Marine Science Center public wing and a night at Chinook Winds Casino are three of the entertainment offerings available in addition to the workshop registration.

The Westin Salishan Lodge & Golf Resort (in Gleneden Beach, Oregon) is host-hotel and site for the Oregon Coast Rural Tourism Workshops, offering an $89 double-occupany rate for participants.  On-site registration and pre-registration packet pick-up is scheduled in Westin Salishan�s lobby for Sunday February 27.  All workshop events are scheduled in the meeting and conference facilities at the Westin Salishan (located on Highway 101 just south of Lincoln City).

The Oregon Coast Rural Tourism Workshops is co-sponsored by Oregon Tourism Commission, Oregon State Parks, PacifiCorp, Sprint Telecommunications and is co-hosted by the Oregon Lodging Association.  Registration information is available by contacting COCA at [541] 265-2064, toll-free at [800] 767-2064, eMail �[email protected]� and on the Internet at �http://www.orcoast.com/coca�.

The Central Oregon Coast Association is the regional visitor marketing organization representing the hospitality industry of Lincoln County supported by its business members and transient room tax revenues collected by Lincoln County.  COCA promotes the long-term economic and environmental health of Lincoln County and its communities through the development of and advocacy for sustainable, high-yield tourism and other economic and educational activities.