Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – Discover Southern Indiana is significantly expanding its regional tourism brand for the first time to include Owen County and Perry County.
Discover Southern Indiana is a region-wide tourism brand under the umbrella of Radius Indiana providing an identity to the eight rural counties making up the Radius Indiana region in south-central Indiana (Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Orange, and Washington).
Within the eight-county region, visitors can find one-of-a-kind resort experiences, Indiana State Parks, Hoosier National Forest, unique cultural events, culinary delights, a multitude of natural resources including karst, vast caving systems, rivers, and lakes, up-close animal encounters, indoor water parks, prestigious golf courses, and so much more.
Radius established the regional marketing brand in 2018 in recognition of the importance of tourism to the regional economy, where hospitality and tourism provides nearly 2,400 jobs. The addition of Perry and Owen counties will bring the expanded region’s total visitor spending to $435 million annually, as of 2022.
Discover Southern Indiana rebranded and launched a new website and marketing campaign in spring 2023 which included increased visibility and engagement on social media platforms, partnerships with county Destination Marketing Organizations and Visit Indiana, and an overall increased awareness of the assets and attractions that make Southern Indiana a unique tourism destination.
Discover Southern Indiana acts as a catalyst to drive regional tourism partnership and cooperation between the counties to strengthen and leverage each county’s marketing efforts by providing support, resources, and opportunities to broaden and expand messaging.
“With the success and momentum Discover Southern Indiana has experienced through the rebranding process it made sense to consider expanding the tourism region to include neighboring counties that fit with the rural profile and abundance of natural resources already included in the region,” said Kristal Painter, Discover Southern Indiana COO.
Owen County to the northwest of the region and Perry County to the southeast of the region have signed on to become members of Discover Southern Indiana officially expanding the tourism region to now include 10 counties.
“The assets and attractions that each county brings to the table will help elevate the regional profile making the expanded Discover Southern Indiana region an enticing destination where you could easily spend several days exploring the abundance of offerings”, said Painter.
Owen County is home to Indiana’s first state park, McCormick’s Creek, and the Cataract Falls State Recreation Area which features the largest waterfall in the state. More than 800,000 visitors each year discover Indiana’s abundant natural resources that show off the ravines, steep cliffs, and hemlock forests that provide adventure in every season.
The outdoor recreation, unique shopping, dining experiences, and events will add to the Discover Southern Indiana portfolio that current and prospective visitors are seeking out.
“Owen County‘s partnership with Discover Southern Indiana will not only take Owen County’s quality of attraction to the next level, but will put it on the map like never before,” said Marce King, CEO of the Owen County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation.
Perry County is nestled between the rolling hills of Hoosier National Forest and the banks of the mighty Ohio River, offering visitors nearly 60,000-acres of forest and direct access to the Ohio River Scenic Byway.
Wineries, breweries, pubs, and numerous dining options add to the offerings for romantic getaways in a cabin tucked away in the forest, or a family friendly adventure exploring the outdoors by boat, foot, or horse.
“Perry County joining Discover Southern Indiana is a monumental step forward in showcasing our vibrant community, rich heritage, and stunning natural beauty. This partnership will amplify our local attractions and offer an inviting gateway for tourists to experience the unique charm and warmth that Perry County has to offer,” said Casey Stutsman, executive director of the Perry County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
For more information about things to do in the Discover Southern Indiana region, click here.
Follow Discover Southern Indiana on social media at @DiscoverSouthernIndiana on Facebook and Instagram.