May is tourism month

May is National Tourism Month and Nancy Landess, chief of Iowa’s Division of Tourism, says the state has teamed up with Best Western Hotels of Iowa for a month-long promotion.People can register at any Iowa welcome center for 100-dollar gift cards that are being given away by the hotel chain. Landess says visitors who stop by the welcome centers can also pick up a keepsake bookmark that could be worth a few bucks too.Landess says with the economy still struggling, people are looking to stretch their vacation dollars a little farther. She says the tourism division’s website is now boasting all sorts of travel coupons.Some attractions, events, hotels, and bed-and-breakfasts are offering coupons via “www.traveliowa.com” by clicking on the “Travel Savings” button.