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Honestly, it seems you have way more hatred for Dallas and Houston than he or anyone else for that matter does for Austin. Look at the continuous shots you just took regarding Dallas. Also, Austin may have the largest and most known festival with SXSW and another big one with ACL. But it doesn't have more festivals than Houston (especially) and Dallas. Austin is a city for people that don't really want to be in a "big city". It is not the only liberal place in Texas or the only place you can party.
I haven't said anything about Dallas or Austin in this post? Austin shouldn't have more of anything than metro areas taht are literally 5 times larger. However, it is a neat quirky place that is a fun getaway.
I believe Annie above asked what's unique about Austin. First of all, every city has something unique about it, but I think these things (and not one defining trait) makes it unique:
*Large university two miles north of downtown.
*It's in the hill country. Pretty unique for metro areas in Texas, which tend to be flat.
* Great bbq, not unique to Texas, but unique to most parts of the country.
*State capitol
*hundreds of watering holes and getaway spots in and around the city.
*had at one point the largest food truck trailer park.
*Alot of movies were filmed there, not as many anymore, but it definitely had notable films.
*Was pretty anti-corporate.
*Formula One Race - I think the only one in the US?
*SXSW and ACL are uniquely Austin.
*Zilker Park, Greenbelt, Marble Falls, Barton Springs Pool, Hamilton Pool
*Franklin BBQ
*Largest bat colony in an urban city.
*Tech driven economy, which is different for the southwest. Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Miami have their own industry concentration.
*Eeyore Festival
*Chicken**** Bingo, Turtle races at Little Woodrow's.
*6th street- not that I would ever go there now, but a street with over 50 bars is unique. Not every city has that.
I could name all of the weird bars, but I'm sure you'll counter with "well, Dallas has a weird bar too, it's called....." Waste of time and we're cluttering the board.
I have a ton of experience with international populations. Most of them have never even heard of Austin. Regardless of what country in the world you're from, if you're visiting America, I promise you think of New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando (well, Disney World really), Boston, Washington DC. "Off the beaten path" would be places like Chicago or New Orleans to most foreign tourists. Austin? Not even on the radar.
I have a ton of experience with international populations. Most of them have never even heard of Austin. Regardless of what country in the world you're from, if you're visiting America, I promise you think of New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando (well, Disney World really), Boston, Washington DC. "Off the beaten path" would be places like Chicago or New Orleans to most foreign tourists. Austin? Not even on the radar.
I'm pretty sure Chicago gets more international visitors than Boston and around the same as DC. So, if Chicago is "off the beaten path" so are Boston and DC.
What does Austin have to offer? If you were on the tourism board and you were in Europe or Asia, pitching to cities why they should come to Austin, what would you pitch? Austin seems like one of those cities where there's other similar ones in Europe. What does someone in Belgium or the Netherlands need to fly over and see in Austin?
NYC can pitch being NYC. Same with LA. San Diego can pitch Legoland, the zoo, Sea World, and being next to Mexico. San Antonio can pitch Sea World too. Atlanta has World of Coke, Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Park, and CNN Center.
Miami has the beach, nightlife, and culture. Vegas with casinos, nightlife, and even proximity to Hoover Dam. Charleston and Savannah have their historic old south qualities. Chicago's got the Loop and everything in it. Even Baltimore can pitch Inner Harbor, the history, and surrounding neighborhoods.
What does Austin have to offer? If you were on the tourism board and you were in Europe or Asia, pitching to cities why they should come to Austin, what would you pitch? Austin seems like one of those cities where there's other similar ones in Europe. What does someone in Belgium or the Netherlands need to fly over and see in Austin?
NYC can pitch being NYC. Same with LA. San Diego can pitch Legoland, the zoo, Sea World, and being next to Mexico. San Antonio can pitch Sea World too. Atlanta has World of Coke, Georgia Aquarium, Centennial Park, and CNN Center.
Miami has the beach, nightlife, and culture. Vegas with casinos, nightlife, and even proximity to Hoover Dam. Charleston and Savannah have their historic old south qualities. Chicago's got the Loop and everything in it. Even Baltimore can pitch Inner Harbor, the history, and surrounding neighborhoods.
Hype from who? If it were up to Austinites, the city would shrink in half.
This oh lord THIS!!
My earlier post on this topic has been ignored but the international tourists are already coming! Condor and BA run direct flights.
I sorta get why international travelers would come -- looking for something "unique" and "authentic" (cowboy boots, BBQ, and swimming holes) but it boogles my mind to see how many US tourists are coming here as a destination for "girls weekend" "weekend with the boys," pre-wedding trips, post-wedding trips. And I can tell you from hard experience that US tourists do not come here to be their best selves, they seem to come solely to drink themselves into oblivion!
Almost 30 years in Austin -- I'd gladly send these people off to NOLA, LV, or Miami!
I'm pretty sure Chicago gets more international visitors than Boston and around the same as DC. So, if Chicago is "off the beaten path" so are Boston and DC.
"International Visitor" and tourists are not necessarily the same thing. Trust me, it's not that common comparatively for a foreigner on holiday to go to Chicago over Boston. Though both are dwarfed by NYC.
I think Philly and probably Boston are cities that foreigners would recognize. I don't think Pittsburgh (like Austin) would be recognizable.
I think, imo the ones that foreigners want to visit (not for business) would look like this:
LA
NYC
DC
Vegas
San Fran
Miami
Chicago?
Philly
Boston (?)
Doing that on the fly, but I think that list makes sense. While other US cities are great, I'm not sure foreigners have a reason to goto them, if not for business.
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