By DIANTÉ MARIGNY
Staff Writer
Funding approval for an ADA-friendly fishing initiative was one of the highlights of the Wednesday, March 26 meeting of the SPI Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Board.
Lori Moore, operations and events manager for Visit South Padre, proposed a $25,000 sponsorship into Fishing Future’s “ICAN” initiative. The program has been around since 2022 on the Island. It promotes outdoor recreation and fishing opportunities for individuals with disabilities, allowing them to participate in water activities on a boat specifically designed to accommodate wheelchairs, medical beds, and other types of medical apparatus. The motion was approved.
Another funding request discussed, approved and highly praised by board members, was $50,000 for RGV Reef. The money will be used for ecotourism efforts, highlighting the deployment of 18,000 tons of concrete and railroad ties to enhance marine habitats. RGV Reef estimates an annual $6 million dollar economic boost from reef-related activities.
“Obviously fishing is huge for our destination to ensure that the fishing future is healthy for generations to come. This is vital, but also from a sustainability standpoint, for our destination, we take that seriously,” said CVA Director Blake Henry. “It’s a great selling point, and really presents a new case study on a destination and how they take care of their backyard…I’ll support 100%.”
The Greenhouse Agency’s Q3 and Q4 media plan was also approved, focusing on summer promotion. The Visit SPI monthly report detailed successful events like the Indoor Kite Fest and the SPI Crawfish Festival, with estimated attendances of 1,137 and 1,500, respectively.
The meeting concluded with updates on social media engagement, international marketing, and PR efforts, including a significant increase in Instagram followers and positive media coverage.
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