Officials disappointed in marketing of Texas boat

Friday, Dec. 1, 2000 | 10:30 a.m.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- The latest floating casino to operate off Texas' Gulf shore has charted a slow course, which is causing waves among local tourism officials.

Some members of the Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce are unhappy with the lack of aggressive marketing by Las Vegas-based Viva Gaming and Resorts, owner of the Texas Treasure, which began cruising into the Gulf in September.

Chamber president Diane Probst said she was surprised that the company didn't even have a nice brochure to publicize the cruises. Ann Vaughan, executive director of the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce, said she never got a response from the company when calling to get promotional material, and hotel managers have complained about the lack of marketing.

Local officials are dismayed because they had pinned high hopes on the boat's ability to boost the local economy.

Officials from the ship company respond that they are just being careful not to promote more than they can deliver.

Previous Gulf cruise operators have failed amid criticism that their boats were uncomfortable and not fancy enough.

The Texas Treasure's inaugural cruise was marred by an hour-long docking delay at the end of the trip. The boat company has also struggled to meet immigration requirements for its crew of 188, which has been beset by high turnover.