Expecting a jump in river traffic the town of Vacherie is planning to build a new dock for boats to stop off on their way along the Mississippi.
Buddy Boe, director of the commission, says Mississippi River cruising is about to double with an expected 75-thousand visitors coming to the area by 2024.
The St. James Parish community is betting on Viking River Cruises to expand its highly popular style of European river cruises to America.
According to the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate, the River Parish Tourist Commission is working with Viking on its riverboat cruise plans and the Port of South Louisiana on getting a berth for the vessels built.
It's been a little more than a year since the Queen of the Mississippi paid a call at the former Vacherie ferry landing. The Commission is looking to build the new dock at the ferry landing berth.
Initial costs tab the price for the dock at 2-to-2.5-million dollars. Two riverboats will be able to dock at a time and the dock could be expanded over time to allow upwards of four boats total.
A boost in the lodging tax from two-to-four percent was approved by Governor Edwards and will go into effect August 1. Proceeds from the tax will pay for the new berth.