Promoting Portsmouth - Now is the Time

An Open Letter to the Portsmouth Business/Arts community

A summer of major sailing events is in store for Newport in 2012:

- Atlantic Cup, May 20 - 27

- Newport to Bermuda Race, June 15

- America's Cup World Series, June 23 - July 1

- Ocean State Tall Ships Festival, July 6-9

The events above will draw thousands of tourists to Aquidneck Island. What can or should we be doing in Portsmouth to get some economic or promotional advantage from these Newport sailing events? While our marine trades industry in Melville is well placed to provide marine related services to the competitors, what else can be done?

How about an outdoor concert at the Glen or ? How about a “Dine in Portsmouth” promotion during the summer period, with participating Portsmouth restaurants partnering with Portsmouth vineyards and/or the to showcase Portsmouth cuisine and artists? I also still like the idea of a “Taste of Island Park” dining stroll weekend. Tourists have to eat somewhere – why not in Portsmouth?

We have some beautiful places to conduct musical or other sports or artistic events – , Island Park and Sandy Point beaches, Heritage Park, Fort Butts, the Bristol Ferry Town Common, among others – could all be used to host visitors to Portsmouth for large or small events. How about an art show at the Bristol Ferry Town Common, for example?

I am not in business nor do I have any financial interest in promoting this, but I do have pride in Portsmouth and hate to see a good, potentially revenue generating opportunity for our town and the business and arts community go to waste for want of trying. Time is getting short, but surely someone out there among all of our Committees and Associations can do something about this economic opportunity?

What kind of events would you like to see held in Portsmouth?