In parallel to the tourism director recommendation discussion May 16, the Gonzales Convention and Visitors Bureau (GCVB) also reviewed a state conducted tourism assessment report. The state report was a combination of studies performed by members of the Office of the Govenor’s Economic Development and Tourism department, the Texas Historical Commission, the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Department of Transportation. According to the board, Gonzales was one of four locations selected for the report.
The most recent statistics available for the study were from 2017 and showed an estimated $23.7 million in total direct visitor spending within Gonzales supporting 190 jobs within the city for that year. The report was broken down in five sections: culinary and dining experience, lodging, nature tourism, historic and cultural tourism and shopping opportunities.
The report (attached up top) said Gonzales has a good selection of “locally owned restaurants for a town its size” and that they would like to see the addition of a tea room/bistro and upscale restaurant downtown. Gonzales has a good mix of nationally recognized hotel chains, local boutique hotels and bed and breakfast accommodations.
Parks around Gonzales have strong amenities and they should be highlighted more in tourism materials. Gonzales features lots of unique and valuable historic and cultural tourism attractions. They have concerns with maintenance and restoration of these assets.
Gonzales has a good mix of “antique and specialty shops, dining and entertainment venues” but most businesses not being open on Sunday hurts the city’s weekend tourism.
The report suggested the city embrace and invest in its story and community. It wants the city to invest considerable amounts of time and resources into ensuring Gonzales is “engaging visitors in the more dynamic, entertaining and educational ways to recruit and retain them.” It also would like to see the city make strides in better maintenance and beautification, specifically in the downtown area.
Other news from the meeting: