Tourist-starved states find creative ways to promote visitors
In Alabama, tourist officials are promoting “The Year of Small Towns and Downtown’s” campaign. But virtually all US states are struggling to find ways of perking up visitor numbers.
“As states across the USA struggle with declining revenues, many are trying new approaches to attract tourist dollars,” reports USA Today.
Total travel expenditures in the US, including international travelers, were down nine percent last year, according to the US Travel Association. The Association is estimating a 4.8 percent increase in 2010.
"It will take us a while to get back to the travel volume we saw before 2009," said Suzanne Cook, a travel expert with the association. She added:
"That’s why it’s so important for state tourism efforts to be more innovative. You have to offer something unique to attract that visitor who is looking for more value."
In Alabama, 215 communities will be hosting events ranging from Mayberry Days in Graysville to Riverfront Market Day in Selma to Mule Day in Gordo, said Edith Parten, communications director of the Alabama Tourism Department. The participants range in size from Mooresville, population 54, to Birmingham, the state’s largest city with about 230,000 residents.
"We wanted to give small towns a chance to be in the spotlight," Parten told USA Today. "So from March through December we will be showing what our smaller towns have to offer. The campaign also includes downtowns, so that will bring in our larger cities like Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile."
Tourism is big business in Alabama, generating USD$8.9 billion in 2009. But that was down from USD$9.6 billion in 2008, state figures show.
Other states and areas are adopting various strategies including promotions aimed at green tourism (Oklahoma); heavy use of social media (Michigan); and promoting various activities ranging from outdoor to museum tours (North Dakota).
By David Wilkening
David
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