LAWTON – Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell will advocate for the state’s tourism program May 22 when he speaks at the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
“We’re pretty excited to have him down here,” chamber president John Michael Montgomery said. “He’s always enthusiastic when making his presentation and I know we’ll be interested in hearing what he has to say.”
The noon luncheon will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Lawton.
Comanche County brings several tourism attractions including the Holy City of the Wichitas, Mount Scott, the Wichita Wildlife Refuge, Mears and Medicine Park, which has a plethora of gift shops, restaurants and a lake area home to boaters and fishermen.
“Certainly, there’s a lot of offer people in terms of tourism,” Montgomery said.
TravelOK.com lists Medicine Park as America's cobblestone community for the round red rocks dotting this tiny, picturesque town, which has a fascinating history. The Plains Indians were well acquainted with this quiet oasis long before its time as a colorful resort town attracting celebrities, gangsters, politicians and journalists.
“The cobblestones – an abundant native geological phenomenon of the area – are found in most structures and imbue the town with its distinctive look. Take a lazy stroll on scenic trails by Medicine Creek or Bath Lake, dine in fine restaurants, or bask in the glow of the sun setting over the surrounding Wichita Mountains. A bevy of cottages, cabins and bed and breakfasts make relaxing easy, and shops with all manner of arts, crafts and gifts offer plenty of browsing pleasure,” according to TravelOK.com.
Oklahoma welcomed 18.3 million visitors in 2022, a 3.3% increase from the previous year. Oklahoma also had the second largest year over year increase in travel spending, with visitors spending an average of almost $500 a night, according to the state’s Economic Impact of Travel report.
Tourism is the Sooner State’s third-largest industry and is second only to oil and gas in bringing out-of-state dollars directly to Oklahoma, according to the report.
The boost in tourism has also added thousands of jobs to the state. According to the report, direct travel- generated employment increased to over 103,000 with the addition of approximately 5,230 jobs in 2022. That’s a 5.3% increase in employment compared to 2021, the report shows.