Visit Tallahassee kicks off new campaign
Tallahassee Democrat –By Elizabeth Mack
March 17, 2010
Visit Tallahassee is stepping up its effort to attract visitors to the city and to make Tallahassee a destination location.
To do that, the organization is launching its “Tallahassee T.O.U.R. Guide” campaign. The
acronym stands for Tourism is Our Unlimited Resource.
The campaign is a Get Out and See Tallahassee concept from previous years, where several locations around the city offered free admission for one day. With this initiative, 10 local attractions will be open for free every third Saturday of the month for the next six months. Those taking advantage of the free visit will be given a badge to show that they
have visited the location.
According to Visit Tallahassee research, 33 percent of visitors to the city stay with family and friends, rather than stay in hotels and motels.
“As one third of visitors to Tallahassee are coming to visit friends and relatives, Tallahassee residents are the city’s best ambassadors,” said Lee Daniel, Visit Tallahassee’s executive director.
“The T.O.U.R. Guide program provides locals a chance to visit attractions located in our own backyard for free. When residents support the local tourism efforts, the entire community benefits from the economic impact.”
Tourism in 2008 accounted for $879 million in spending, $310 million in salaries and wages, while employing 15,431 people, according to Bonn Marketing, Inc.
The campaign starts this Saturday with free admission to the Brogan Museum at Kleman Plaza. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CEO Chucha Barber said her staff is especially looking forward to being the first featured attraction this weekend.
“This weekend is important to us because it is the end of the Kinsey exhibit,” she said of the privately owned collection of black art and artifacts. “And guests get to see that, the dinosaur exhibit and participate in Wine Fest activities, all for free.”