VISIT FLORIDA Launches Resources to Help Summer Travelers
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 19 /PRNewswire/ — As summer’s annual vacation migration to Florida kicks off Memorial Day weekend, the state of Florida is ramping up online and social media resources to assist travelers when planning getaways and visiting the Sunshine State. The recent Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has raised many questions about the Florida beaches, especially for the holiday weekend. To help visitors, and provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, has developed dedicated resources on its website VISITFLORIDA.com/FloridaLive to provide real time updates about conditions at the state’s beaches and popular destinations across the state.
“Florida has 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline and 663 miles of beaches. We know many visitors are concerned about recent events’ potential to affect their vacations and VISIT FLORIDA wants to do all it can to provide current and correct information,” said Will Seccombe, chief marketing officer at VISIT FLORIDA. “Each year, Florida hosts more than 80 million visitors, many of them returning year after year. We value our relationships with our visitors and want to extend our ongoing bond with these guests by doing all we can to ensure their visits become cherished memories as they enjoy Florida’s many attractions, natural beauty, cultural heritage and resorts.”
Website features include live webcam feeds from destinations across the state; Google map-based Twitter feeds providing local updates on beach conditions, weather and activities; photos posted by ‘Florida Fans’ and an extensive collection of vacation deals for a variety of Florida destinations. The goal is to enable potential visitors to make their Florida vacation plans based on real time information from local sources. To supplement the organization’s website activities, VISIT FLORIDA has also begun aggressive print, broadcast and online marketing campaigns to provide accurate and accessible information on Florida beaches and vacation destinations.
“Florida is a great place to spend Memorial Day weekend,” said Seccombe. “From Pensacola to Palm Beach, from Kissimmee to Key West, fun in the Florida sun continues across the state. Whether your idea of vacation is lying on a beach or lounging by the pool, teeing off at one of the country’s finest golf resorts, shaking hands with theme park characters or strolling the shops of South Beach, there’s something for everyone in Florida. Stay tuned to VisitFlorida.com for the latest information to help you with trip planning.”
For additional information, contact Kenneth Morgan at (850) 205-3862 or kmorgan@VISITFLORIDA.org
As the state’s number one industry, tourism is responsible for welcoming more than 80 million visitors each year, which results in over $60 billion in taxable sales revenue and employs in excess of 1 million Floridians. For every $1 spent on tourism marketing, VISIT FLORIDA – the state’s official tourism marketing corporation – generates $58 in tourism spending and more than $3 in new sales tax collections, paid by visitors, not residents. VISIT FLORIDA promotes tourism to Florida through sales, advertising, promotions, public relations, new product development and visitor services programs. As a public/private partnership VISIT FLORIDA has more than 3,000 tourism industry Partners and four major strategic alliances with American Express Travel Related Services, AirTran Airways, Dollar Rent A Car and The Hertz Corporation. To learn more about VISIT FLORIDA, www.VISITFLORIDA.org.
SOURCE VISIT FLORIDA