TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma officials say they plan to highlight Route 66 during promotions this year that aim to boost the state’s tourism industry.
The Tulsa World reports that Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell toured the historic highway Tuesday. He says the state’s new administration hopes to increase tourism by promoting Oklahoma’s scenic beauty and international interest in the Mother Road.
Pinnell says tourism has potential for growth as the state’s third-largest industry, behind oil and gas and aerospace. He will host a convention in December to develop plans to improve signage along the route and help all towns see tourism benefits.
Route 66 was decommissioned as a U.S. highway in 1985. It covered more than 2,400 miles connecting Chicago to Los Angeles and passed through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
___
Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com