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.
One needs only to check out the Convention and Visitor's Bureau website to understand why Southwest Louisiana enjoys such tourism success.
VisitLakeCharles.org (VLC) is a robust website maintained by a team of marketers that provide the latest updates to area attractions while pitching new story ideas that align with regional and national media's editorial calendars.Through eight social media platforms, including Louisiana’s Playground weekly podcast and VLC-TV, a YouTube series, a vast audience is constantly introduced to what Lake Charles and SW Louisiana have to offer today's vacationer or convention-goer. Available digitally or via a hard copy, the VLC's Inspiration Guide is updated every six months. Evidence of regional tourism momentum can be found in the Coming Soon and What’s New section. Adjusted seasonally, the The Insider Blog showcases trends in tourism. The user-friendly and graphically impressive Events Calendar provides further understanding of Southwest Louisiana's solid visitor base.
VLC's 2023 Annual Report provides further insight as to the strength and vision of the organization responsible for contributing to the economic well-being of SW Louisiana.
Truly a part of the Sportsman's Paradise, Southwest Louisiana offers fishing year-round! Freshwater fishing, brackish, and saltwater fishing are all within an easy boat ride from the banks of Contraband Bayou. The oyster reefs, channels, and near-shore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico offer multiple opportunities to catch trophy redfish, trout, and flounder.
With Port Wonder nearing completion and the Crying Eagle Brewery close behind, those in the 80,000+ VPD on I-10 will find it quite easy to park in the renovated 5-story parking garage and check out these new attractions that are a part of the waterway connectivity shown on the Google map below.
Chief among the compelling reasons to consider Contraband Pointe North is its close proximity to L'auberge 
and Golden Nugget Casino and Golf resorts.
The combined gaming admissions in 2023 for these luxurious facilities was over 500,000 per month.
Between the success of the gaming opportunities, the numerous conventions, and the exceptional quality and quantify of the big name entertainment both deliver, the number of visitors traveling to the casinos from out of town necessitated more hotels. The number of hotel rooms within 1.5 miles of Contraband Pointe is an impressive 3,300 +/- rooms.
This Google map illustrates the easy connectivity of Contraband Bayou to the Lake, the close proximity of the Casino and Golf resorts, and the exciting developments along the lakefront that are sure to lure travelers off I-10. While the conceptual rendering falls short, it provides ideas for the creation of a destination resort that can easily capitalze on it's locational advantages.
Like the conceptual rendering, this section is a constant work-in-progress. Submit ideas to
- Botanical Gardens
- Activities:
- Ropes Course
- Kayak tournament
- Cooking classes in the culinary center, including fish and fowl cleaning
- Internet Café
- Office Condos (buy or lease) on Contraband Parkway
- Dedicated living area for 55+ buyers/renters
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.
REVENUE GENERATION: Tourism revenue for Southwest Louisiana in 2023 surpassed $500 million, driven by expenditures on accommodations, dining, entertainment, and shopping.
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.
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