MARQUETTE -- Tourism in Marquette was the topic of discussion Monday night for the Economic Club of Marquette County.

By all accounts, the tourism numbers in the area are up nearly 12 percent.
    
In an effort to stay ahead of the rise in tourism, the Marquette Country Convention and Visitors Bureau is rebranding itself and will feature the slogan "What's Your Human Nature?".
    
Pat Black of the visitors bureau spoke about what makes the area unique.

"While we may be back to nature, we're still pretty cosmopolitan now and we have a university. We have a lot going on. We are really becoming a premier destination without a big attraction," said Black.

Black also said the hotels in the area have experienced an increase as well. Nearly all hotels in the area are posting numbers above what was expected over the past year.