NEW ORLEANS —
Born and raised in St. James Parish, Antonio Joseph knows all about the history of the area.
“My family, they come from the Laura Plantation,” Joseph said.
What he did not know about was there is a new tourism push to get people to visit the river parishes.
A YouTube clip from the River Parish Tourist Commission shows the attraction in a video. The theme: New Orleans Plantation Country.
“Oh no, they can’t do it like that. Why you wanna call it something like that?” Joseph said.
River Parish Tourist Commission, which is a state public entity, spent an estimated $50,000 on a study about their tourism brand.
The study shows the Commission questioned several people, including travel journalists and experts. But many of those surveyed thought using the name ‘New Orleans’ was misleading and inaccurate.
The study outright asked people what comes to mind when they hear ‘New Orleans Plantation Country?’
One response was “Racism, slavery, brutality, people trying to cover up the fact that this happened and glorify it as some sort of good ol’ times on the plantation drinking sweet iced tea and singing happy songs when in reality it’s all actual crap and the place is horrid.”
Harriet Buckner doesn’t like the name either. She feels the commission should have a name that shows what the three river parishes have to offer.
Eyewitness News reached out to River Parish Tourist Commission Executive Director Buddy Boe. He released the following statement:
“The study referenced was done to analyze the brand that has been in place since the early 2000s. During the study, interviews, focus groups, online surveys, and local roundtables were held to gather a variety of perspectives. It was decided to expand the narrative of the brand and diversify the messaging to the visitor of what our region offered. Early 2018, our commission approved the brand messaging and marketing plan that was enacted throughout the year and to the present.
Our board is considering a resolution to begin a strategic planning and brand analysis process this summer and fall to inform our marketing and activities of the Commission moving forward.”
Whatever comes next, those living in the parishes Eyewitness News spoke with want the name gone, since they say studies show that it was a bad idea from the start.
On the commission’s website, it does highlight other activities and events taking place in the parish. The name “New Orleans Plantation Country” remains the main theme.