Welcome back to New Orleans

As the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina beckons, the New Orleans tourism board is launching a host of new initiatives to get people back to the region.

A new media centre has been set up to meet journalists and demonstrate the vibrancy that is coming back to New Orleans.

Comprehensive information is available for display that documents the plans for the New Orleans and state of Louisiana relief and restoration effort.

The famous French Quarter is notably running familiar events with the treasure hunt, a favourite with visitors and locals, planned to continue right the way through to September 15th.

New Orleans Halloween weekend is also back and planning is under way for Mardi Gras, taking place in the early part of next year.

There is no doubt that the tourism authority is putting in a lot of effort to alter the perception of New Orleans that has engulfed it ever since the hurricane hit.

Erasing memories of the Superdome or the horrendous aftermath of the tragedy in the streets is an impossible job. Instead bringing back the old memories of New Orleans and being proud of the relief effort is the new path of thought.

T-shirts emblazoned with 'rebuild' and 'revive' are part of the general message; that the spirit of New Orleans lives on.