Tourism pros network in Eunice

The World Championship Crawfish Etouffee Cook-off was among the topics discussed in a St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission networking meeting Thursday. 
About 15 tourism professionals attended the meeting at Niche Artst Gallery & Studio on 2nd Street. 
In greeting the group, Eunice Mayor Rusty Moody said, “It is very important for us to have people come to Eunice to see all the things we have.”
Moody reminded them of the cook-off Sunday. 
“If you haven’t been, you owe it to yourself to come,” he said. “They have really delicious food.”
Celeste Gomez, parish tourism director, said the networking meetings are held each month somewhere in the parish, usually in a new venue for tourism. 
Niche, which opened in November, is representative of where the networking meeting are held, she said. 
The art gallery and studio, which also includes, Eunice Community Art House, is owned by Michele Richard. 
The gallery’s focus is to display “big name artists” from Eunice and elsewhere, she she said. 
The Community Art House is more “funky” with a goal of building community through art, she said. 
Besides displays of art, the Art House offers workshops and community events, such as an art walk every two months.
Gomez said French-speaking mayors from several countries are visiting Lafayette and Arnaudville Monday. The visitors will include the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.
Caitlin Bussey, also with the parish tourism staff, recently returned from Travel South Showcase in Shreveport where St. Landry Parish was often mentioned by tourism operators and journalists. 
“It got to see how good of a support system we have outside of St. Landry Parish,” she said. “Some people sat down with me for an appointment and said, ‘I already know about the Liberty Theatre and the Boudin Trail. Somebody was talking about it last night at dinner.’”
Gomez said St. Landry Parish ranked 17th overall in Louisiana tourism revenue with $94.33 million being generated in 2013 through the various industries measured.
Thursday’s event included a rundown on upcoming parish events. They include:
— Cajun Prairie Habitat Restoration Society, April 4, Eunice. 
— Cycle Zydeco, April 8 to 12, Arnaudville, Port Barre, Washington, Sunset, Grand Coteau, Opelousas and Eunice. 
— Second Saturdays along Corridor des Arts, Sunset to Henderson. 
— Semi-annual Antique Fair and Yard Sale, April 10 to 12, Old School Mall, Washington. 
— Semaine Francaise, April 14 to 15, Baton Rouge. 
— Washington Catfish Festival, April 16 to 19.
— Music and Market Spring Series, April 17, Opelousas. 
— 30th annual Etouffee Festival, April 24 to 26, Arnaudville. 
— National Tourism Week, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, 9 a.m. May 6, St. Landry Parish Visitor Center. 
— St. Landry Tourism Industry Luncheon, Opelousas Civic Center, May 7.