La Paz holds tourism expo to boost visitor economy and services

La Paz Regional Tourism held its 2026 Tourism Expo on January 14 at the BlueWater Resort & Casino just north of Parker, drawing local businesses and community organizers to promote the county’s tourism assets. The event presented La Paz County’s mix of outdoor recreation, cultural events and year-round visitor services as a coordinated effort to attract more domestic and international travelers.

Exhibitors and presentations focused on the county’s headline draws: Lake Havasu and its water-based activities, hiking through scenic desert landscapes, and an expanding calendar of local festivals and community gatherings. Attendees learned about accommodations, tour operators, transportation options, dining and other services that make multi-day stays feasible. Organizers emphasized the role of well-marketed special events in extending visitation beyond peak holiday weekends and into shoulder seasons.

For La Paz County the economic stakes are clear. Tourism already underpins many local businesses from hotels and marinas to restaurants and outfitters; the expo aimed to strengthen that ecosystem by improving coordination among service providers and amplifying marketing efforts. By highlighting year-round offerings rather than a few seasonal hotspots, the county is signaling a push to spread visitor spending more evenly across months and towns, which can stabilize employment in hospitality and related sectors.

Market implications extend beyond immediate bookings. Better packaged experiences and clearer transportation and lodging information make La Paz more competitive in regional travel markets, where travelers increasingly favor destinations that combine outdoor adventure with reliable services. For local businesses, that means opportunities to convert weekend visitors into longer-stay guests, to upsell guided trips, and to capture higher per-visitor spending on food, equipment rentals and tours.

Policy choices will shape how much of that potential is realized. Investments in road maintenance to popular trailheads, coordinated shuttle or ferry connections around Lake Havasu, and workforce training for hospitality jobs can translate expo interest into repeat visitation and durable job growth. Conversely, underinvestment in infrastructure or inconsistent permitting for events could limit capacity as demand rises.

Longer-term trends favor destinations that balance access with sustainability. La Paz’s emphasis on year-round programming and curated visitor services positions the county to grow visitation while managing pressure on natural sites. The expo also serves as a platform to recruit regional partners and to align local businesses with county marketing strategies.

For residents, the immediate takeaway is practical: expect more coordinated promotion of local events and services this year, and potential increases in tourism-driven economic activity and seasonal employment. For local leaders, the expo highlights the next steps—investments in infrastructure, transport and workforce development—to turn visitor interest into steady economic gains for La Paz County.