POINT PLEASANT — The Mason County Convention and Visitors Bureau is making even more of an effort to spread the word about what the area has to offer.

Along with its Web site and brochures, the tourism center recently launched a tourism blog, which is an online diary. The blog’s purpose is to showcase area events and activities as well as future tourism projects.

According to tourism AmeriCorps worker Ojas Vaidya, the blog was created to serve as another mechanism for promoting tourism.

“(The idea for the blog) started because (CVB Chairman) Denny (Bellamy) came back from a conference and talked about new ways of promoting tourism,” he said.

Vaidya added that the blog will feature information regarding the area’s current, upcoming and future events. In addition, the blog will serve as a medium to discuss current projects. For example, a recently posted entry describes the county’s quilt barn trail. Included in the entry is information regarding the project’s status as well as links to other Web sites that discuss the quilt trail phenomenon.

Various photos will be added periodically to the blog as well. Links to the Mothman Museum and tourism center’s Web sites also are included. In addition, the blog features a section where registered users can write comments regarding particular entries.

Vaidya described the blog as a way to connect more people with Mason County tourism.

“There are a lot of blogs out there ... this will be a direct way for the tourism center to communicate new ways of what they are doing,” Vaidya said, adding that he hoped information on the blog will spread through e-mail updates and word of mouth.

The tourism center also has another way to inform the public of what Mason County has to offer. According to Vaidya, the tourism center worked with AJ Productions to produce a YouTube video featuring the area, which includes footage from various events, activities and locations.

“(AJ Productions) took old footage mixed with new footage that was shot over six months for (the video),” Vaidya said.

He added that the video also features music by up-and-coming singer Kenneth Duncan, who donated his song about life in a small town for the video.

Vaidya expressed his hope that the blog and YouTube video will continue to attract people to the area.

“I think (the video and blog) will bring a new perspective for sure. It will highlight the area in a very modern way on what Point Pleasant has to offer,” he said. “As attractions and tours grow, it will be a good asset to look over.”

The blog can be viewed at http://masoncountywvtourism.blogspot.com/. To view the YouTube video, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6krrZsnneCw.

For more information, call the tourism center at 304-675-6788.