The American Bus Association (ABA), the leading trade organization for the group travel industry, has announced that the Tanana Valley State Fair to be held on August 6-14, 2004, has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2004 by an elite tourism industry selection committee. Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the October issue of Destinations Magazine, indicates that the Tanana Valley State Fair offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travelers from around the world, said ABA. �The attractiveness of the Tanana Valley State Fair as a don�t-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction for Fairbanks,� said Peter J. Pantuso, ABA�s president and CEO. �The real news here is that the Tanana Valley State Fair has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars, at a time when reenergizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy. The honor gives Fairbanks an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners.� According to a study recently completed by researchers at The George Washington University, one overnight visit by a motorcoach group can leave from $5,000 to more than $11,000 in a local destination�s economy. Those dollars are spent on lodging, meals, admissions, fees, shopping, souvenirs, services and local taxes.

�Simply put,� said Pantuso, �motorcoach groups spend more and stay longer. That�s why the Tanana Valley State Fair is truly a local economic asset. There is no better way to jump-start tourism than to attract motorcoach groups to a great event and convince them to extend their stay.� ABA�s 2004 Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected the Tanana Valley State Fair from among hundreds of U.S. and Canadian events nominated by state and provincial tourism offices and visitors bureaus. Judges considered the event�s broad appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria. The Top 100 Events list will be available online at www.buses.org. The Tanana Valley State Fair Association started in 1942 and is Alaska�s oldest fair and Interior Alaska�s largest event. Attendance averages 120,000 with over 300 vendors participating annually. 1,500 exhibitors enter over 9,000 entries, with the largest cabbage ever entered at 63 � pounds. ###

Media Contact: Karen Lundquist +1 (907) 457-3282 x227 klundquist@explorefairbanks.com

The American Bus Association is the trade organization of the intercity bus industry with about 900 motorcoach owner and tour company members in the United Sates and Canada. Its members operate charter, tour, regular route, airport express, special operations and contract services. Another 2,300 members are travel and tourism organizations and suppliers of bus products and services who work in partnership with the North American motorcoach industry.