Some tourists have decided to ditch their traditional beach vacations and travel to the Deep South to experience the unique culture of Louisiana as popular new television series have led to an increase in tourism in Baton Rouge and around the state.
Paul Arrigo, president and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge, said information specialists at Visit Baton Rouge noted that interest in swamp tours – which have always been popular tourist attractions – has been rising with increasing enthusiasm about in “Swamp People,” a reality show depicting the lives of several men living in the Atchafalaya River Basin swamp.
“Swamp tours have always been high on the list, but many people have indicated to our specialists that they watch and enjoy the show,” he said.
Since the show’s premiere, Arrigo said tourists’ interest in swamps has generated increasing tourism to the area.
In addition, Arrigo said the Baton Rouge Film Commission reported 28 productions were filmed in the Baton Rouge area in 2011.
During that year, more than 21,000 hotel rooms were occupied, greatly exceeding the number of rooms in 2009 and 2010.
Butch Guchereau, owner of Cajun Country Swamp Tours in Breaux Bridge, said he has seen an increase in business since the tour opened about five years ago, and many visitors are from other states.
“A lot of people take a weekend trip from Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, New York, Washington,” he said. “They’re scattered all over the U.S. About three-fourths of the people who do tours are from out of state or out of the country.”
The majority of non-U.S. visitors are from Western Europe and Canada, but Guchereau said he has also given tours to people from Mongolia, Australia, India and Japan.
Guchereau said visitors are often “nature-oriented people” who are interested in the local ecosystem, while others want to see alligators in their natural surroundings.
Several visitors expressed interest in Louisiana culture and swamps after the airing of “Swamp People” and similar series, he said.
While Guchereau said he hasn’t watched all the shows, he believes many of them are dramatized.
“They’re an accurate depiction of what people want to perceive,” he said. “Those aren’t the people I grew up with. Some of the characters like [‘Swamp People’ star Troy] Landry are, but the majority isn’t.”
Jack Sessions, tour guide captain at Honey Island Swamp Tours in Slidell, agreed that “Swamp People” and other shows that depict rural life in Louisiana appeal to many visitors.
“A lot of people talk about them and ask about them,” he said.
As filming has boomed in the state, many University students are becoming increasingly interested in learning the art of film.
While the University does not offer a formal film program, Joseph Watson, film and media arts instructor and digital media coordinator at the College of Music and Dramatic Arts, said several colleges and departments started offering opportunities that allow students to gain experience in film.
Watson said the AVATAR program offers students a minor in digital humanities, which focuses on several concentrations including digital animation, filmmaking and video game design.
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a minor in film and media arts, and the English Department offers three writing courses with a concentration on writing for film, he said.
Watson said the College of Music and Dramatic Arts is also considering offering a minor in film in the future.
“Obviously there’s been an explosion of production in the area, and it appears to be here to stay,” he said.
Watson said the recent boom in television programs filmed in the state has generated an interest in the area among television viewers.
“The explosion of filmmaking has helped the tourist industry in Louisiana,” he said. “It started with ‘True Blood’ and has taken off from there. ‘Swamp People’ and other shows have just piggy-backed off it.”
Watson said he’s not surprised that Louisiana has seen the boom in filming.
“Louisiana is an interesting place,” Watson said. “We offer so much culturally as well as aesthetically. We have a beautiful state, and there is so much that is unique about it that you can’t get elsewhere.”
 
____
Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]