In this episode, Shelley Zumwalt, Executive Director at The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, joins Adam to discuss the economic impact of tourism on the state level. Shelly highlights tourism's role in attracting businesses and creating jobs, especially in rural areas. She addresses Oklahoma's perception challenges and the need for effective marketing to showcase the state's unique attractions.  “When we're talking about Oklahoma, we're not just talking about marketing tourism. We’re talking about business development. When we have businesses that come in and look at Oklahoma, those tourism dollars aren't just marketing to people we want to take vacations here. They're marketing to everyone. They're saying, this is what Oklahoma is about.” -Shelley Zumwalt Travel Oklahoma If you’re enjoying the show, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Subscribe to our newsletter! The Destination Marketing Podcast is a part of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network. It is hosted by Adam Stoker and produced by Relic. If you are interested in any of Relic’s services,  please email [email protected] or visit www.relicagency.com. To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email [email protected].