MUNISING — An Upper Peninsula resident has been appointed by the governor to sit on the Michigan Travel Commission.

John Madigan, the manager of Pictured Rocks Cruises, was named to the commission last week. As a member of the commission, Madigan will interact with the Pure Michigan campaign and the state’s tourism board to promote travel in the U.P.

“It’s an honor to be able to serve the State of Michigan,” Madigan said, “and we hope to continually promote, keep bringing new ideas, and keep expanding the tourism business across the state and especially in the Upper Peninsula.”

As manager of Pictured Rocks Cruises, Madigan knows the kinds of tourists who come into the area and plans to continue promoting all that the area has to offer.

“People come from the entire United States, and then also international visitors. People like to come up here and stay in the area, and I think it’s incumbent upon us to promote this and be able to keep building the reputation and the beauty of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore,” Madigan said.

Madigan noted the Soo Locks, mine tours, Tahquamenon Falls and Mackinac Island as other U.P. attractions that draw large tourist crowds each year.