Austin Council Members Seek To Preserve City's Uniqueness

AUSTIN, TX — A group of city council members aim to create a fund with an initial project of distributing visitor information centers at tourist destinations across the city as the project's centerpiece.

The effort stems from a previous proposal put forth on Oct. 15 to create the Visitor Information Center Fund, an initiative promoted by council members Ann Kitchen, Leslie Pool, Kathie Tovo and Alison Alter. The council members now envision the visitor information centers as an offshoot of that effort, pointing to a City of Austin website portal identifying various tourist destinations as "Iconic Austin Music Venues" and "Iconic Austin Restaurants."

The council members' proposal recommends assessing a need for assistance to avoid loss, an interest in participating as a recognized iconic tourist destination and other criteria to evaluate their potential to function as "Visitor Information Centers" for Austin’s tourist economy. A draft resolution has been prepared to that end.

This proposal aligns with previous city council action (Resolution No. 20200326-091) to consider other possible options for uses of existing Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT), and creates an opportunity to redefine Austin’s Visitor Information Centers as destinations that provide an authentic Austin experience in their original locations, both informing and entertaining visitors with authentic Austin culture. “These iconic businesses make Austin a world-renowned destination,” council member Alter said in a prepared statement. “As we navigate the economic impacts of this pandemic, the city should explore every opportunity to support the places that make Austin a special place to visit.”

For her part, Pool spoke to the need of safeguarding the dynamics making Austin unique: “We have a duty to be as courageous and innovative as Austin itself in order to save our city’s unique character," she said in a prepared statement. "It’s our live music and cultural vibrancy that attracts visitors from around the world, and we have the means and the money to do it. We just need the will to make it happen."

Added Tovo: “Austin is a premier tourist destination in large part because of the unique legacy of the local businesses that have long made the Capital of Texas a vibrant spot for visitors from around the world. We should consider innovative and bold measures to ensure their survival.”

Council member Kitchen touched on the iconic nature of the city's tourist destinations, buttressing the need to preserve them: “These places are the heart and soul of Austin. They draw people here from around the world to enjoy Austin’s one-of-a-kind sights, sounds, and experiences,” said Council Member Kitchen. “Let’s be creative and take this opportunity to both ensure our City’s reputation as the best place to visit while helping these places be more sustainable for generations to come.”