Discover Colorado Rally brings out a colorful Colorado mascots, including the governor

Leaders of the Colorado tourism Industry gathered on the steps of the Capitol yesterday for a Discover Colorado Rally and celebration of the first official Colorado Tourism Day. They were surrounded by some of the state's best marketing mascots (and a mysterious pirate): the Blue Bear, Miles and the top touter of all, Governor John Hickenlooper.

Miles is spreading the tourism cheer!

Everyone from Miles to the Blue Bear to Colorado Tourism Office director Al White oohed and aahed as Richard Scharf, CEO of Visit Denver and chairman of the board of the Colorado Tourism Office introduced the new mobile application app for www.colorado.com, which includes everything from hot deals to cool giveaways.

Richard Scharf introduces Colorado's new tourism app.

Dwayne Romero, executive director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, announced that May 10, 2011 was the state's first official Colorado Tourism Day. "Tourism is a major pillar of Colorado's economic stance," he noted.

John Hickenlooper supports Colorado tourism.

At that, Romero's boss, John Hickenlooper, jumped in to declare that he was "100 percent, 110 percent, 120 percent a supporter of Colorado tourism and the future it has in store."

Denver's Blue Bear can dance...

...and even hug.

Read Patricia Calhoun's "Top 7 ways to improve Colorado tourism" here.