STEVENS POINT, Wis. (May 10, 2017) – Think you know everything about the Stevens Point Area? Join the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (SPACVB) for the 2017 FAM Tour, planned for Wednesday, May 31. FAM is abbreviated for familiarization, as the tour aims to do just that in the Stevens Point Area, featuring different tour stops as well as local snacks and treats along the way.

The event includes a guided three-hour tour of Portage County with stops at area attractions and points of interest, with two tour times available. The first tour will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the second tour will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The tour begins at the Visitor Information Center, 340 Division Street North, Stevens Point. There is no cost to attend but, space is limited. To reserve a tour spot, contact the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 715-344-2556 before Friday, May 26. 

While it is geared towards front-line staff throughout the county, from restaurants, attractions, retail shops, gas stations and hotels, anyone can attend. This tour has been hosted annually since 2005 as a way to showcase the region's tourism assets. Each year, the Stevens Point Area Convention & Visitors Bureau spends thousands of dollars to bring visitors to the region, and this tour helps local residents serve as ambassadors for all of the fun things to see and do in the region.

The Stevens Point Area has seen continued growth as a destination for visitors in Wisconsin. In 2016, visitors spent $124.7 million in Portage County. This marks the fifth year in a row that traveler expenditures topped $100 million in the county, according to figures released by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

"Events like the FAM Tour and the Tourism Takeover allow us to engage with the local residents who don't realize that tourism is an important part of the economy throughout Portage County," said Brish.

The Stevens Point Area Convention &Visitors Bureau is an economic and community development organization whose purpose is to expand Portage County’s economy by attracting conventions, sporting events and leisure tourists to Portage County. Millions of dollars from visitor spending and increased tax revenues are generated to increase commerce, sustain jobs and to create a desirable destination.

For more information about the Stevens Point Area, visit StevensPointArea.com. The SPACVB can also be found on Facebook (facebook.com/StevensPointArea), Twitter (twitter.com/StevensPtArea) and Pinterest (pinterest.com/StevensPtArea) and Instagram (instagram.com/stevenspointarea).

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