Travel officials hope to boost year-round tourism in Upper Michigan

MARQUETTE COUNTY, Mich. (WLUC) – With summer in full swing in the Upper Peninsula, it’s no surprise to see people from out of town visiting.

Travel Michigan Interim Vice President Kelly Wolgamott said outdoor recreation is the biggest draw.

“Overall in the state, we have 3,200 miles of freshwater coastline and the trails,” Wolgamott said. “People want to get outdoors and enjoy, not only those opportunities with family and friends to make connections, it’s a wellness movement. You can have a fresh perspective.”

Travel Marquette CEO Susan Estler agrees that nature is likely the main attraction.

However, she explained it’s the people who live here that make visitors want to return.

“Everybody in Marquette is great,” Estler said. “They’re nice, they’re polite, they’re helpful and that’s one of the things I hear constantly through all four seasons.”

Estler said tourism numbers in Marquette have declined to pre-Covid levels.

She explained Travel Marquette wants to see events planned throughout the year so businesses that usually close during the winter can stay open.

“Just having everything shut down during the winter is a real bummer when you can have only a few places where you can go eat,” Estler said. “We’re really looking at trying to bring people in year-round.”

After businesses in the U.P. took a hit due to our mild winter, Wolgamott said Travel Michigan is also working to highlight activities that don’t just rely on snow in the cold months.

“People still want to get out and enjoy the beauty you can only see in the Upper Peninsula,” Wolgamott said. “You can still go on the trails, you can still enjoy the beauty of the lake, you can still enjoy everything the U.P. communities provide.”

Wolgamott says that because tourism is a multi-billion-dollar industry for the state, it’s important for businesses to stay flexible and promote the area they live in.

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