For people who live in Great Bend, this is home.  But for people who visit the area, Great Bend is known for its proximity to the natural beauty of the Scenic Byway, the Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira Natural Refuge.  Now, thanks to the efforts of the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Central Kansas Photography Club, businesses in Great Bend can access a free resource to help visitors spread that message to the rest of the world.
In February, the GBCVB produced a selection of three postcards which it will make available to area businesses for free, said GBCVB Director Cris Collier.  
“Everyone was asking where they could find Great Bend postcards, so we decided to create some to tie into our “It’s In Our Nature... marketing plan,” Collier said.
The collection of three postcards feature nature photographs taken by local photography club members.  
“We are really blessed to have so many wonderful nature photographers in this area, and they are so generous to share their work with us,” she said.  
Two out of the three cards feature the “It’s in our nature...” tagline the cvb picked for it’s tourism marketing plan in 2012.  In recent years, there has been a jump in nature based and agricultural based tourism, according to Collier.
“There has been a huge shift in the tourism industry towards people’s interest in the outdoors and being immersed in an experience,” she said.  “These postcards will help us to continue to get the message out that Great Bend and the surrounding area is a place that welcomes nature lovers and people in search of a unique natural experience.”
The cards will be available in all area hotels and motels and at the visitors bureau on 10th Street.  Local businesses can also request a supply of the cards to offer to their customers for free by contacting the Collier at (620) 792-2750.