Western Neb. or Panhandle?

ALLIANCE, Neb. — Do you live in the Panhandle? Or western Nebraska?

To tourism officials, the difference matters.

Some tourism supporters, including Scotts Bluff County Tourism Director Kevin Howard, a member of the Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition marketing committee, said travelers are more familiar with the term western Nebraska.

Terminology was one of the issues the group discussed during a regional meeting this week.

Many businesses throughout the region use “Panhandle” as part of their company name, such as Panhandle Coop, Panhandle Humane Society and Panhandle Telecommunications, to name a few. The group says it’s one thing for locals to use the term, but they believe it’s in the best interest of regional tourism to refer to western Nebraska. Outside the area, they say, many Americans don’t include Nebraska among the states, such as Idaho and Oklahoma, with well-known Panhandles.

“Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition carries a lot of weight, and if all of us pull together and set our boundaries we can make this happen,” said Lisa Burke, North Platte Convention & Visitors Bureau executive director and coalition chairwoman.

« Metro/Region

Share