There's a Reason for the Success of the Tourism Industry in Lake Charles and SW Louisiana!

Contraband Pointe North is poised to contribute to this important sector.

Besides enjoying the Children's Museum of Southwest Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Science Education Center in Port Wonder and the craft beers at the second location for the popular Crying Eagle, Lake Area Adventures and Paul's Rib Shack have combined to offer quality ribs plus a downtown location for those wanting to paddle board or Kayak in the lake and beyond. 

Because of its proximity to the two casinos, Contraband Pointe North offers an opportunity for developers or budding entrepeneurs to take part in achieving the CVB's goal of achieving a Water Taxi service. As illustrated on the Google Map below, the easy connectivity to the Lakes, Rivers, and Bayous will be a welcome and constant source of enjoyment for road weary travelers, business and convention/sports related visitors and local residents. Developers are encouraged to take a look at Bayou Greenbelt, an initiative of the Just Imagine Foundation and The Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program (RTA) of the National Park Service. 

 CVB FACTS, FIGURES, & FEATURES 
VISITOR NUMBERS: In 2023, Southwest Louisiana, including Lake Charles, saw a notable increase in tourist arrivals compared to previous years, with a 10.79% rise in confirmed group bookings. This growth was attributed to enhanced meeting incentive programs, marketing campaigns and increased accessibility via regional transportation.

Waterfront Development Image courtesy of VisitLakeCharles.org

REVENUE GENERATION: Tourism revenue for Southwest Louisiana in 2023 surpassed $500 million, driven by expenditures on accommodations, dining, entertainment, and shopping. 

LC Casinos Photo Credit Lindsey Janise

Bayou Greenbelt Image by Kathryn Shea Duncan

MARKETING: The Visit Lake Charles team launched the new “As Much Joy As You Can Pack In” campaign with activations in major markets like Austin, San Antonio, and Houston in 2023. The campaign reached 950,0000+ through social media ads, streaming ads, and influencer partnerships. The campaign will continue to grow in 2024 to reach target markets and capture the diversity of the destination.

Festivals Photo by Lindsey A Janies

Cuisine

Birding Photo Courtesy of VisitLakeCharles.org

To learn more about Southwest Louisiana's tourism industry, economy, and the developer-friendly City Planning office for the City of Lake Charles, feel free to contact:

Matt Young
Director of Public Relations
Visit Lake Charles 337-240-5788 
myoung@visitlakecharles.org


George Swift
President/CEO
Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
337-433-3632
gswift@allianceswla.org


Doug Burguieres
Director, Planning and Development
City of Lake Charles
337-491-1542 
dburguieres@cityoflc.us