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Read comments (8)"The idea is to be all inclusive," said Phyllis Qualls-Brooks, a spokeswoman for the department. "We have multiple cultures -- the census tells us that -- and we know (Hispanic) culture is part of our potential market."
Tennessee's $13.4 billion tourism industry is growing, Qualls-Brooks said. The industry has seen a $1 billion increase for each of the past two years, according to the Travel Industry Association of America, but the state does not measure how much Hispanics, or any other specific group, are contributing to that.
The department is advertising in four Spanish-language newspapers that have a combined circulation of about 85,500 in Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville.
But the ads, which feature a Hispanic family on an outing to an aquarium, will also run in rotation with other ads in national magazines that are not part of the ethnic press, Qualls-Brooks said.
Ramon Cisneros, president of the Tennessee Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said he applauds the efforts to attract Hispanic tourists to the state.
"It's good for people to understand that not all Hispanics are below the poverty line," he said. "There are Hispanic doctors and professionals in almost every field, and these people go on vacation and spend money.
"Tourist meccas like Las Vegas and Orlando spend a lot of money to advertise to the Hispanic community."
Yuri Cunza, president of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said he believes the tourism invitation should come with a warning -- bring the proper documentation or you could wind up in jail.
The Davidson County Sheriff's Office instituted a program earlier this year designed to make sure illegal immigrants who commit crimes are jailed and deported. But those crimes can include minor traffic infractions, and Cunza said Hispanic visitors who are not carrying the proper identification could face problems, even if they are in the country legally.
"It's fun to come to Tennessee," he said, "but because of the new law enforcement program they should advise travelers who are foreign to be sure to have the proper ID or else they're sending people into the cave of the wolves."
Qualls-Brooks disagreed, saying it was "not an issue."
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"For I mean not that other men be eased and ye burdened: "
II Corinthians 8:13
I have worked for over 25 years to get where I am today and when I filed my income tax for last year, I still owed 1,300.00 in addition to the 9,000.00 I had already paid in. I also pay Medicare and Social Security and pay monthly for Health Insurance.
If you are paying taxes to the U.S.govt., then I have no problem with any nationality--or if you can fix it so Americans don't have to pay taxes. My ancestors worked hard to build our country and all the immigrants coming here illegally and receiving free healthcare and a free education and working with a false ID are destroying everything they worked for.
If you don't like the my attitude or that of my fellow americans, then go home and fix your own country.
If I went to a foreign country, I would have to have a Visa and/or Passport and my language would not be accommodated. I would have to speak the native language.
And I don't think most of our immigrants _refuse_ to learn English. I imagine that some of them are _trying_ to learn English -- which doesn't happen overnight, especially when you learn as an adult. I've tried learning Spanish and Swahili in preparation for some of my mission trips, and believe me you don't learn very much very quickly.
Yes, there are a lot of issues that we as a nation have to deal with regarding immigration and border control. We can't just open the borders to anyone. But we have to approach this issue responsibly, and compassionately.
solo escribo para decirles que no se olviden de que DIOS creo este mundo y que el es el que decide lo que pasa y si uno de ustedes piensa que es mas que Dios y que puede jusgar a otros y atacarlos solo por ser diferentes o hablar otro idioma solo me queda decirte que mi proxima oracion es para que mi DIOS tenga misericordia de aquel que no ama a su projimo
JOHN 3:16
It is only "not an issue" when dollar signs are blinding you. Just what we need in TN, more Hispanics.
That's great--as long as they pay and don't expect handouts and are here legally {passport,visa,etc} and actually speak English.
You have GOT to be kidding me ! Im going to re-read this, the last time I read it, I could have sworn it said we wanted MORE hispanics here. I hate to be politically incorrect here but there are 17 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Why would anyone encourage them to come visit their state? You know if they like it, they may just stay.
Thats whats wrong with Tennessee.Im tired of living in Shelbyville and the rest of Tenn. because of hispanic ppl. takin jobs of americans.I'm moving away from Tenn. as soon as possible.
Yeah, lets load up the buses and bring them all over here.
Yeah, lets load up the buses and bring them all over here.