Events

Events & Festivals

Each year thousands of tourists attend events and festivals and contribute to yet another niche in the tourism industry.  In addition to being fun, festivals, special events, conferences, concerts and educational symposiums are also economic development. 

Communities know that the economic impact of great events serves to enhance the local service economies.  The service industry economy and tax base supports local businesses, schools, government, and affects all other areas of the economy. 

The price of admission or registration is just a small part of the overall economic impact events have on a community. Festivals work to support locally owned businesses found on main streets, town squares, and historic plazas.  To attract more visitors to New Mexico communities, special events, activities, a theme, unique resources, or some way to differentiate them selves must be developed in order to form a basis for increased visitation and longer visitation times. 

The examples of New Mexico tourists who have bought land, retired here, or who represent the recurring rentals of hotels and restaurant business – long after the event that led them here or attracted by a festival or an attraction such as the Blue Hole – are countless. 

Santa Rosa should develop special events, festivals and the package our resources into a theme that is a statement of our uniqueness.  More importantly, we need to develop a combination of enterprise funds, special projects fundraising, membership, event registration fees, ticket sales, and admissions to pay for and promote these events
   
Converting a traveler into a visitor and a tourist will bring more money and thus more jobs and small businesses into the community.  Festival development will increase and extend our tourism season.  The benefit of tourism is that it is an import industry.  Visitors come into town, spend money, and then go home-importing cash into the local economy.   Santa Rosa has a great advantage with service businesses attracting travelers.