The third of three events take place in Indianola today, after Indianola was selected as the premier destination site for three highly anticipated group events over the next several years, through a partnership with the Indianola Chamber of Commerce, Simpson College, and other community groups.

Over the last several weeks the Iowa Association of Chamber of Commerce Fall Conference, and the CITR (Central Iowa Tourism Region) Travel Iowa Marketplace and the CITR Travel Iowa Marketplace Familiarization Tour took place.

Chamber President and CEO Amanda Zwanziger tells KNIA News tourism is a way for Indianola to grow significantly, but safely.

“In order to be the community that we can be, and in order to be a sustainable community, we need to grow. Tourism is a strategy to grow. 60% of people move somewhere because they visited there. We don’t want to grow like the rest of the suburbs in Des Moines, we want to grow at the right place, and tourism is going to help us do that.”

Today is the third event, the CITR Travel Iowa Marketplace. The event and tradeshow serves as a platform for tourism professionals, travel industry experts, and meeting and tour planners to connect, collaborate, and promote the diverse attractions and experiences that Iowa communities have to offer in Simpson College’s Hubbell Hall and Principal Black Box Theater.