tourism ad 2022

2022 Top Tourism Campaigns Bring Typing Ponies & Talking Kangaroos

This year saw us returning to travel in big ways, and the campaign ideas rose to match! We found some of the most creative, quirky, content-driven ideas out there and summed them up for this year. From Ryanair on TikTok to horses that will answer your emails. In no particular order, here are our picks for 2022 Top Tourism Campaigns and why we just can’t get enough of them.

Denver, CO: Basecamp Denver

In 2022, Denver, CO, launched a new YouTube series and campaign landing page for their brand Basecamp Denver . Told in 3-5-minute episodes, this tourism-campaign-meets-reality-TV-show encourages visitors to use Denver as their “basecamp for all Rocky Mountain adventures.” Each video features a Denver native teaching a visiting family or group how to do things like fly fish, rock climb, mountain bike, snowmobile, curl, snowshoe and more. Best yet, the lessons take place in some of the area’s most scenic locations.

Why We Love It:

The series makes Denver’s most active assets approachable to newcomers while also showcasing the area in a fun and interesting way. It takes a grounded approach to destination marketing and features the people of Denver prominently. Watch for some hidden gems as well – the groups end each video with a lowkey activity, showcasing area breweries, distilleries, art installations and spas.

Ryanair: TikTok Strategy

Airlines took a hit this year, but every year are the source of thousands of travel-related complaints. Canceled, delayed or changed flights, cramped seating, baggage fees and lost luggage are all part of the day-to-day of operating in the airline industry. Ryanair decided to embrace that through their TikTok channel in 2022 . Poking fun at the most common of challenges with witty content and hopping on the latest trends, Ryanair stood above – or at least apart from – competitors.

Not only is their strategy perfect for the platform, but it connects with consumers on a very real level. Ryanair doesn’t shy away from the reality of air travel and doesn’t pretend to solve the world’s problems. It also connects with their brand promise of providing a cost-effective way to fly without the bells and whistles.

@ryanair You ready for the Christmas roast? ? #ryanair #roast #xmas #christmasroast ♬ original sound – Lily

@ryanair Sorry babes, you have to earn your flight ? #ryanair5k #ryanair #fyp ♬ Reduce Your Expectations to 0 – ??Lucy??

Visit Iceland: Out-Horse Your Email

According to data from Qualtrics on vacation and work trends , 49% of employed Americans say they work at least one hour a day while on vacation. Another 24% work at least three hours a day. According to Visit Iceland, they have the solution for all your work-from-vacation problems: Personal Assistant Ponies.

In a campaign website, the destination introduces three Icelandic Ponies , each with their own personality. The assistant ponies are trained to “answer your emails” while you explore Iceland. (They are quick to respond, but no promises that their responses will be intelligible.) The site gives you all the great destination information as well: where to go, what to see/do, and where to stay while the horses handle your workload.

The site addresses a major concern in the tourism industry, calling out the slog of working from vacation, losing time to emails and unused vacation time. It also brings awareness to its rare breeds and scenic destination. It also uses a lead-capture form encouraging sign ups to “out-horse your email,” building its customer list for marketing efforts.

Tourism Australia: Come and Say G’Day

Playing off of their iconic welcome phrase of “G’Day,” Tourism Australia’s newest campaign introduces star talent and a set of new characters who playfully introduce visitors to the destination. In a 9-minute movie that gives off lots of “Toy Story” vibes, meet Ruby the Kangaroo plush and her new pal Louie the Unicorn as they traverse Australia – seeing the sights and getting into some seriously funny situations.

Australia has always gone big with their marketing campaigns – see the Super Bowl Ad they produced in 2018 with stars Chris Hemsworth and Danny McBride – but Ruby feels more like a mascot for the ages. The campaign launched in 2022 and will continue running over the next two years. It will be interesting to see how she takes off across their website, social channels and additional video content.

Australia tells an engaging story going beyond their destination content. Yet they seamlessly work in major assets and attractions that visitors will want to explore when they come. They also give their partners the tools needed to interact with the campaign and give it legs beyond the single brand. Check out Australia’s Industry Toolkit .

Colombia: Book of Warmth

Whoever said print is dead hasn’t seen Colombia’s newest campaign. Marching in the opposite direction from the flashy video campaigns of its competitors, Colombia polled the heart of the destination, its people. They used the stories gathered and released a 212-page “Book of Warmth” in downloadable ebook format. The book is a visual work of art and goes all-in on storytelling – featuring tales of its residents from home cooking to beekeeping, bike tours to music-making, and more.

It can be challenging for a destination to stand out in a crowded space of amazing food, craft beverages, sightseeing, arts & culture and more. What makes a place truly unique are the people, their struggles, successes and stories. Colombia leans into its locals and poured an incredible amount of time into documenting their tales. Not only can these be repurposed into online, social and PR content, but it also shows how much the destination team values the residents of its country and wants to share their stories with the world. 

Can’t get enough of the creativity? Check out our Top Tourism Campaign round ups from past years and the elements of a Top Campaign:

Top Tourism Campaigns of 2021

Top Travel Campaigns of 2020: Tourism Marketers Get Creative in the Face of Adversity

The 5 Top Tourism Campaigns of 2019

2018’s Best Tourism Campaigns: Our Five Favorites

Elements of Top Tourism Campaigns

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3 New Tourism Ad Campaigns Striking the Right Tone for These Times

Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift

April 20th, 2021 at 1:00 PM EDT

The rise of responsible travel messaging in marketing is a welcome next step, as destinations prepare for the return of large summer crowds locally, and international travelers keep a close eye on their favorite locales. Now's also the time to warn the ugly tourists.

A year ago, the global pandemic left destination marketing organizations scrambling to pause their promotional messaging. What started out as a wait-and-see approach evolved into advice to stay home and dream , while keeping favorite destinations top of mind for when safe travel eventually returns.

A year later, there’s a clear shift happening in marketing messaging as vaccines in the U.S., Europe and Asia continue rolling out and travelers are vacation planning and booking.

It’s the rise of the responsible travel marketing campaign, encouraging travelers to be more respectful in their behavior — to enjoy outdoor places but remain conscious of their choices once they begin to explore again, whether in their respective vaccinated backyards or when the time comes, on their international vacations.

From Portugal’s push to get consumers to think of the preservation of our planet long-term, to Florida’s Manatee County’s appeal to vacation responsibly by minding one’s trash on its island beaches, these three campaigns strike the right note at this evolving time in our industry’s recovery.

Portugal: Hello World — It’s Me, Tomorrow

Portugal’s high level message speaks to the world directly, marveling at its natural wonders, vibrant colors and ecosystems while evoking in “tomorrow’s traveller” — shown through the face of locals — the importance of doing better for the planet, to which humans are inherently connected. It’s a forward looking message at how we can do better once Portugal, and the world, reopens. “Let’s change today and we will keep visiting tomorrow,” the campaign says.

Scotland: Yours to Enjoy — Responsibly

“Let’s keep Scotland special now and for generations to come,” Visit Scotland ‘s new campaign says, urging travelers to respect Scottish communities and wildlife as they roam. The message to slow down and immerse echoes the “build back better” sentiment that the industry has been pushing since the pandemic forced a rethink on overtourism and climate change impacts.

FLorida’s Bradenton Gulf Islands: Love it Like a Local

As larger numbers of Americans begin to vacation in their backyards again, the majority continue to flock to outdoor mountain and beach destinations  — particularly in Florida.

In anticipation of an even bigger surge this summer and in time for Earth Day 2022, the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau launched a new “Love It Like a Local” campaign to guide visitors in enjoying their destination — including the increasingly popular and small Ana Maria Island — but also caring for it. The campaign comes on the heels of increasing resident complaints about visitor noise and trash on beaches.

“The video is from a child’s perspective so that way it resonates with children — we want this to be good for people of all ages,” Kelly Clark, marketing and communications director at Bradenton CVB, said. “We’re also hoping that hey, if this 11-year-old girl can tell you to respect the rules, then the adults will too.”  

As the U.S. braces for a busy summer of travel and the industry remains on a path to slow recovery at a global level, all while rethinking what it means to build back better, these responsible travel marketing campaigns gracefully tackle the other side of the safety coin: protecting communities and the environment from the inevitable impact of returning tourists.

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Tags: destination marketing , responsible travel , tourism campaigns

Photo credit: Florida Bradenton County's Anna Maria Island is one of several destinations that recently launched a responsible travel campaign. Carol VanHook / Flickr Commons

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Fact sheet: 2022 national travel and tourism strategy, office of public affairs.

The 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy was released on June 6, 2022, by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo on behalf of the Tourism Policy Council (TPC). The new strategy focuses the full efforts of the federal government to promote the United States as a premier destination grounded in the breadth and diversity of our communities, and to foster a sector that drives economic growth, creates good jobs, and bolsters conservation and sustainability. Drawing on engagement and capabilities from across the federal government, the strategy aims to support broad-based economic growth in travel and tourism across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia.

The federal government will work to implement the strategy under the leadership of the TPC and in partnership with the private sector, aiming toward an ambitious five-year goal of increasing American jobs by attracting and welcoming 90 million international visitors, who we estimate will spend $279 billion, annually by 2027.

The new National Travel and Tourism Strategy supports growth and competitiveness for an industry that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, generated $1.9 trillion in economic output and supported 9.5 million American jobs. Also, in 2019, nearly 80 million international travelers visited the United States and contributed nearly $240 billion to the U.S. economy, making the United States the global leader in revenue from international travel and tourism. As the top services export for the United States that year, travel and tourism generated a $53.4 billion trade surplus and supported 1 million jobs in the United States.

The strategy follows a four-point approach:

• Promoting the United States as a Travel Destination Goal : Leverage existing programs and assets to promote the United States to international visitors and broaden marketing efforts to encourage visitation to underserved communities.
• Facilitating Travel to and Within the United States Goal : Reduce barriers to trade in travel services and make it safer and more efficient for visitors to enter and travel within the United States.
• Ensuring Diverse, Inclusive, and Accessible Tourism Experiences Goal : Extend the benefits of travel and tourism by supporting the development of diverse tourism products, focusing on under-served communities and populations. Address the financial and workplace needs of travel and tourism businesses, supporting destination communities as they grow their tourism economies. Deliver world-class experiences and customer service at federal lands and waters that showcase the nation’s assets while protecting them for future generations.
• Fostering Resilient and Sustainable Travel and Tourism Goal : Reduce travel and tourism’s contributions to climate change and build a travel and tourism sector that is resilient to natural disasters, public health threats, and the impacts of climate change. Build a sustainable sector that integrates protecting natural resources, supporting the tourism economy, and ensuring equitable development.

Travel and Tourism Fast Facts

• The travel and tourism industry supported 9.5 million American jobs through $1.9 trillion of economic activity in 2019. In fact, 1 in every 20 jobs in the United States was either directly or indirectly supported by travel and tourism. These jobs can be found in industries like lodging, food services, arts, entertainment, recreation, transportation, and education.
• Travel and tourism was the top services export for the United States in 2019, generating a $53.4 billion trade surplus.
• The travel and tourism industry was one of the U.S. business sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent health and travel restrictions, with travel exports decreasing nearly 65% from 2019 to 2020. 
• The decline in travel and tourism contributed heavily to unemployment; leisure and hospitality lost 8.2 million jobs between February and April 2020 alone, accounting for 37% of the decline in overall nonfarm employment during that time. 
• By 2021, the rollout of vaccines and lifting of international and domestic restrictions allowed travel and tourism to begin its recovery. International arrivals to the United States grew to 22.1 million in 2021, up from 19.2 million in 2020. Spending by international visitors also grew, reaching $81.0 billion, or 34 percent of 2019’s total.

More about the Tourism Policy Council and the 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy

Created by Congress and chaired by Secretary Raimondo, the Tourism Policy Council (TPC) is the interagency council charged with coordinating national policies and programs relating to travel and tourism. At the direction of Secretary Raimondo, the TPC created a new five-year strategy to focus U.S. government efforts in support of the travel and tourism sector which has been deeply and disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the full strategy here

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22 Categories to Watch in ‘22: Top Travel Advertising Trends

• 22 Categories to Watch in '22

As we approach the end of the year, we’ll be covering trends from 22 key markets. We’ll recap what each industry has experienced over the past year and what to watch for in 2022. Learn who are the top advertisers from each category and how they spend across formats.

Of all things missed during the pandemic, travel was at the top of the list for many people. 

“[Travel] is a necessity, for lives and livelihoods, for families, as well as for economic and mental health,” said Gavin Tollman , CEO of the global guided tour company Trafalgar. “Never again should we forget that travel is truly one of the greatest gifts for so many reasons beyond just a vacation.”

As more people received their vaccinations, they eagerly began boarding planes and cruises . 

Families felt urgency to give children fun and exploratory experiences they had missed out on for more than a year and a half. Engaging in “ revenge travel ,” parents made up for lost time by going on big trips to Disney World or international destinations. 

By the end of second quarter , Disney reported that parks were at or “near” reduced capacity levels. 

At the same time, businesses realized they could cut costs and reduce their carbon footprint by not sending professionals to far-away meetings or events. Business travel recovery isn’t expected until at least 2023, if not later. In response, airlines have changed their loyalty programs , often reducing the amount of miles needed to achieve a higher status tier. 

The travel industry isn’t out of the woods yet. In the same month that the Biden Administration lifted the pandemic-era ban on international travel, the World Health Organization declared Omicron a “very high” global health risk. 

Will the risk of a new covid variant be enough to deter travelers from exploring new places or visiting family members more frequently? It’s far too soon to tell, but the pent-up demand is still real. 

Top travel companies are investing heavily to reach consumers who’ve shifted their priorities and feel the itch to experience the world. 

MediaRadar Insights

Overall spending and breakdown across formats.

Homebound consumers and the travel industry both needed some rejuvenation in 2021. Travel marketing teams jumped on the opportunity. Overall, travel companies spent $2.31 billion in 2021.

More than $1 billion of this spending was across digital. The second largest format advertisers spend on was print, in which they spent $659 million this year. They also spent $580 million on TV this year.

Number of Advertisers

20 thousand advertisers spent $2.3 billion in 2021 compared to 20 thousand advertisers spending $1.7 billion in 2020.

Advertiser Retention 

In the overall category, travel advertisers had a 48% retention rate between 2020 and 2021 (January – October).

5 Top Advertisers – Which Advertisers Spent the Most in 2021?

1. the walt disney company .

The Walt Disney Company is the top advertiser in this category, dedicating 16% of their overall budget to ads promoting their travel brands. 

The Walt Disney Company’s ad spend is up 73% in comparison to last year with their investment in digital advertising up 89% YOY. They have made significant investments in OTT advertising, which saw increased spending by over 1000% since last year. 

This year, The Walt Disney Company spent over $694 million on digital advertising, with over $44 million going towards online video ads, $152 million going towards Facebook ads, and $44 million going towards Snapchat ads. They also spent over $666 million on TV advertisements, with nearly $341 million allocated for broadcast ads and $325mm for cable ads. 

Below is a breakdown of The Walt Disney Company’s spend thus far in 2021. We predict they will likely have an upcoming RFP issued. MediaRadar can help you connect with 172 key contacts at The Walt Disney Company. 

2. Expedia Group, Inc. 

Expedia Group, Inc. is also top advertiser in this category, dedicating 52% of their overall budget to ads promoting their travel brands. Expedia Group, Inc ad spend is up 138%  in comparison to last year with their investment in digital advertising up 322% year-over-year. 

They have made significant investments in Facebook, OTT, Native, and Newspaper advertising, all of which saw spending increased by over 1000% since last year. 

This year, Expedia Group, Inc spent nearly $180 million on digital advertising, with nearly $132 million going towards online video ads, $27 million going towards Facebook ads, and $10 million going to display advertising. 

Expedia spent over $153mm on TV advertisements, with $98 million allocated for cable ads and $55 million allocated for broadcasting ads. 

Below is a breakdown of Expedia Group’s spend thus far in 2021. We predict they will likely have 2 upcoming RFPs issued. MediaRadar can help you connect with 43 key contacts at Expedia Group, Inc.

3. Airbnb, Inc. 

Airbnb, Inc. is another top advertiser in this category, dedicating 100% of their overall budget to ads promoting their travel brands. 

Airbnb, Inc. ad spend is up 560%  in comparison to last year, with their investment in TV advertising up over 1000% year-over-year. They have made significant investments in online video, broadcast, cable, OTT, podcast, and mobile advertising, all of which saw increased spending by over 1000% since last year. 

Spending on advertisements on Facebook went down, as did display ads and native advertisements.

This year, Airbnb, Inc. spent nearly $54 million on digital advertising, with nearly $44 million going towards online video ads, $6 million going towards Facebook ads, and $3 million going to OTT ads.

Airbnb spent over $51.5 million on TV advertisements, with $39 million allocated for cable ads and $11 million allocated for broadcasting ads. 

Below is a breakdown of Airbnb, Inc. spend thus far in 2021. MediaRadar can help you connect with 16 key contacts at Airbnb, Inc.

4. Royal Caribbean Group 

Royal Caribbean Group is another big advertiser in this category, dedicating 95% of their overall budget to ads promoting their travel brands. Royal Caribbean Group ad spend is up 9% in comparison to last year, with their spend in digital advertising up 245% year-over-year. 

Most of their spending was allocated for TV advertisements, with nearly $34 million spent on broadcasting ads and $7 million on cable ads.

This year, Royal Caribbean Group spent nearly $11 million on digital advertising, with over $7 million going towards online video ads and $27 thousand on mobile ads, a 926% and over 1000% increase in spending respectively.  They also invested in advertising campaigns with Snapchat and OTT .

Will this trend towards increasing digital advertising continue? Below is a breakdown of Royal Caribbean Group’s spend thus far in 2021. We predict they will likely have 3 upcoming RFPs issued. MediaRadar can help you connect with 22 key contacts Royal Caribbean Group.

5. Southwest Airlines Co. 

Southwest Airlines Co. is also one of the top advertisers in this category, dedicating 100% of their overall budget to ads promoting their travel brand. 

Southwest Airlines Co. ad spend is up 34%  in comparison to last year, with their spend in digital advertising up 103% YOY.  Most of their spending was allocated for digital advertisements, with a 405% increase in spending on online video ads.

This year, Southwest Airlines Co. spent over $28 million on digital advertising, with over $16 million going towards online video ads and $9 million on Facebook ads. 

They also spent $19 million in TV advertisements, with $11 million towards cable ads and $7 million towards broadcast ads. Southwest Airlines Co. also began investing in newspaper ads and increased their spending in OTT ads by over 1000%. 

Below is a breakdown of Southwest Airlines Co’s spend thus far in 2021. We predict they will likely have an upcoming RFP issued. MediaRadar can help you connect with 21 key contacts at Southwest Airlines Co.

For more updates like this, stay tuned. Subscribe to our blog for more updates on coronavirus and its mark on the economy. 

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MOSCOW LAUNCHING A NEW PROMOTION CAMPAIGN

Tourism business has boomed in Moscow, in fact the number of tourists who visit the Russian capital has increased. It only shows that Moscow has proved to be a more tourist-friendly city.

One of the reasons is due to the major events which are held in here for example the Superbike race, the Athletic Worlds and many more. In order to expand the number of vacationers, the Moscow authorities initiated a huge campaign to promote the city which put more emphasis on international visitors.

The major thing is the double decker bus which is popular in major cities around Europe such as Amsterdam, Milan, Berlin and others. As of the moment, it can transport tourists to several urban areas in Russia such as St. Petersburg, Moscow and Kazan as well. It is very convenient since it has a sound control which has four dialects that include German, Spanish, English and Russian. The tourists can get to visit all the must see places in just an hour.

According to Sergei Shpilko, chairman of the Moscow Tourism Committee, during the last few years, Moscow has actually changed tremendously. Now, it is already a multilingual and multicultural city without any hindrances of the past. The campaign for Moscow tourism will be done by Bold Creative, a Dublin based company. According to Mark Quinn, CEO of Bold Creative, the campaign will ultimately target all sorts of people on the social media. The visual portion will focus more on Moscow being an amicable as well as a cutting edge city.

The bus is just a part of the campaign in attracting more visitors to the city. Later on, they will be redesigning the major sights of the city. At the same time, they will also be implementing information points in English language all over the city. In the future, there will be maps as well as iphone applications which can direct you to the best tracks of the city.

The best way to explore Moscow is to travel using the Moscow metro system. Travelers are usually amazed by the subway which is filled with mosaics, bronze and marble as well as signs and maps. Here are some of the best spots in Moscow which you can explore on foot:

· Park Kultury Metro - is the best place to start since it is the passageway to the city.

· Moscow's Central Gorky Park - this is the place for various sports exercises with open air seats and many more.

· State Tretyakov Gallery – in this gallery you can discover the famous works of Vassily Kandinsky and other well known artists.

· Muzeon Park – is where the sculptures and monuments of the Soviet-period can be seen.

· The Island of Strelka - has the best collection of design, media and architecture. You can also enjoy their rooftop bars and nightclubs with an amazing view.

· Lumiere Brothers- if your hobby is photography then you should not miss this photo gallery.

· Red Square – there’s plenty of options for you out here.

· GUM department store – Feeling hungry already? Then why not taste some of the best Russian cuisine here.

· Arbat - is the best place for Russian souvenirs.

· Foreign Ministry Building – you will be amazed by its style of architecture inspired by the Stalin Empire.

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Florida News | COVID pandemic slashed return on Florida…

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Subscriber only, florida news | covid pandemic slashed return on florida tourism marketing efforts, report says.

TALLAHASSEE — Visit Florida saw its return on investment fall to 58 cents for every $1 spent on marketing as COVID-19 slammed the doors on the state’s tourism industry, according to a new analysis by state economists.

But with tourists back at beaches, theme parks and other attractions, the analysis projects that Visit Florida’s economic return will rebound to pre-pandemic levels.

The analysis, released Tuesday by the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, looked at the 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 fiscal years. The pandemic hit in early 2020, largely shutting down the tourism industry and having longer-lasting ramifications for issues such as international travel.

Visit Florida, a public-private agency, receives state money to lead tourism-marketing efforts. The report seeks to measure the economic benefit, or return on investment, for money that went to Visit Florida.

The analysis found that the return on investment during the three fiscal years fell dramatically from the prior three years, when it was $3.27 for every $1 spent.

Economists pinned the blame on the pandemic, as employment in the leisure and hospitality industry dropped and tourism numbers plummeted. As an example, visitor counts fell from a then-record 131.069 million in 2019 to 79.397 million in 2020.

“The overall decline in ROI (return on investment) is exacerbated by the precipitous drop in FY 2021-22 to an ROI of 0.11,” the analysis said. “While the overall tourism count had rebounded to near pre-COVID levels by then … the composition was significantly different and still reeled from the effects of the pandemic shock.”

To revive the industry after initial shutdowns, Visit Florida first focused on getting Floridians to visit other parts of the state and luring Americans who would drive from other parts of the country. The agency subsequently tried to bring back international travelers.

Overall tourist counts grew to 121.838 million in 2021, 137.4 million in 2022 and 135.02 million last year. In 2023, numbers of overseas and Canadian travelers remained just below 2019 totals.

Tuesday’s analysis attributed the rebound to the state’s beaches and an increase in advertising by such things as theme parks.

“Based on its share of total tourism advertising spend, Visit Florida is responsible for approximately 3.45 (million), 4.66 (million), and 4.30 million visitors during the 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 fiscal years, respectively,” the analysis said. “The remaining marketing-influenced visitors are attributable to the efforts of the four other major marketing contributors (local public, local private, Visit Florida private, and theme parks).”

A spokeswoman for Visit Florida said Tuesday the agency was reviewing the report.

During the three-year period analyzed, Visit Florida received $50 million a year from the Legislature and additional matching money from private partners. In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the agency received an additional $30 million in federal pandemic-related money.

The analysis estimated Disney, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld were responsible for $787.9 million in marketing during the review period, which “accounted for 33.5 percent of all major tourism marketing efforts in the state.”

In a measure of the impact of COVID-19, Disney saw its attendance go from 58.58 million at the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios in 2019 to 18.67 million in 2020, according to state figures. SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, which are owned by the same parent company, went from 8.82 million to 2.88 million. Universal properties in Florida went from 21.29 million to 8.1 million in the same time.

By 2022, Disney’s attendance was up to 47.06 million, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay hit 8.5 million, and Universal properties were at 21.7 million.

The estimated spending by the theme parks didn’t include dollars they provide to Visit Florida, local governments and direct-marketing organizations.

Lawmakers included $80 million for Visit Florida in the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, which will start July 1. The budget has not been sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, economists looked at a 10-year period and said “the current working ROI of 3.3 percent is more reflective of the Visit Florida program over a longer period of time and should be used for all forward-looking analyses.”

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Turkey to boast largest stall at Moscow tourism fair

Monitoring Desk

ANKARA: Turkey will occupy the largest stall at Russia’s biggest tourism event, Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry announced on Sunday.

The Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (MITT) will kick off on March 13 for the 25th time, the statement said.

The opening of the stall will be done by Culture and Tourism Minister Numan Kurtulmus, who is also expected to meet with key tourism professionals at the fair.

Turkey has been continuously represented in the fair since 1994, its inaugural year, and at last year’s fair it won the Best Destination Presentation award.

The 1,254-square-meter stall features seven different sections — from north to south and east to west — that reflect the rich cultural heritage of Anatolia.

Promoting regions and destinations will take priority in Turkey’s presentation.

Turkish Airlines and 29 other tourism sector groups and 12 private enterprises will also hold activities under the Culture and Tourism Ministry umbrella. AA

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Home » Home » Space Coast Office of Tourism Highlights Multi-Year Project at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach

Space Coast Office of Tourism Highlights Multi-Year Project at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach

By Space Coast Daily  //  April 6, 2024

Lori Wilson passed away in 2019 at the age of 81

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Space Coast Office of Tourism began a multi-year project in Lori Wilson Park in mid-2020 to refurbish many areas that needed refreshing and updating.

The 32-acre park in Cocoa Beach hosted over 800,000 visitors in 2022 alone with more than 80% from outside the county – many attending two popular events, P1 powerboat racing at Thunder on Cocoa Beach and the Cocoa Beach Air Show.

Two large funding sources a Tourism Development Council Capital Facilities grant ($2.76M) and use of the Beach fund ($1.25M) were authorized by the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners.

These refurbishments included replacing the seven crossovers and connectors with a composite material that will last 30+ years (a massive improvement over using wood), completely renovating the dog park (with new sod, fencing, benches, trees, and sprinkler system), replacing shower towers and both the North- and South-side bathroom facilities, and an overhaul to the hammock by removing invasive plants and completely rebuilding the boardwalk.

Back in the 1970’s, the land was being used as an unofficial landfill. Florida State Senator, former County Commissioner, and Cocoa Beach resident Lori Wilson recognized that cleaning the area could return it to the former natural glory.

She put together a matching funds plan with the county and state sharing in the purchase of the property and the trash was cleaned out by various Boys and Girls Clubs over several weeks.

The community unanimously decided to name the park after Wilson, who was also a major proponent of manatee protection laws, the Equal Rights Act, and the removal of paid toilets in public women’s restrooms.

Wilson was appointed by Gov. Claude Kirk to fill a vacancy on the Brevard County Commission in 1969 and was the first woman in the state to receive a gubernatorial appointment like this.

She then was elected to a full term in 1970 and elected Chair in 1972, the first woman to do so.

Later that year, she was the third woman elected to the Florida Senate and re-elected in 1974, serving until 1978. Wilson was an honorary director of the Central Florida Zoological Society and legislative director of the Florida Injured Wildlife Sanctuary.

Lori Wilson passed away in 2019 at the age of 81, but her legacy lives on.

Mansfield Maritime Hammock

The Lori Wilson Park Maritime Hammock was renamed the Mansfield Maritime Hammock in August 2022 to honor the inspiring efforts of Phyllis and Howard Mansfield, volunteers who worked to protect this habitat for the birds that call it home.

As long-time residents of Cocoa Beach, the Mansfields were deeply concerned about the health of the hammock, along with the dozens of types of migratory and native birds that visited the area, as it’s a part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.

They removed exotic plants and litter from the grounds, cleaned bird feeders, maintained a watering pond, communicated local conditions to bird watchers, and planted hundreds of native plants in the city. Phyllis Mansfield recounted how she and others had thwarted potential plans to build another road through the hammock.

She said, “This maritime hammock is a wonderful part of the greater Lori Wilson Park and I hope my friends – county residents, birders and volunteers – will all work to ensure this maritime hammock’s wildlife habitat will be restored by removing and replacing invasive plants with desirable bird attractors and a water feature.”

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Tiny NH towns brace for eclipse chasers to arrive for 'once-in-a-lifetime event'

The tiny town of Colebrook is bracing for an extreme influx in tourists as eclipse chasers come from far and wide to see the  first total solar eclipse  in New Hampshire since 1959.

Colebrook is one of the small communities in the northern part of the state that is in the path of totality, meaning the sun will be completely obscured by the moon. This is likely to last for about 3 minutes around 3:29 p.m. Monday, April 8.

Colebrook has a population of just over 2,100, according to  Census estimates for 2022 . But on the day of the eclipse, it could swell to the tens of thousands.

Totally into totality: Eclipse lovers will travel anywhere to chase shadows on April 8

“It could be, in addition to those lodging, tens of thousands of people coming into the area and that could possibly be the largest influx of personnel that we’ve ever seen in that part of the state,” Colebrook Town Manager Tim Stevens said at a press conference Friday. 

Stevens was joined by Gov. Chris Sununu, Director of Travel and Tourism Lori Harnois, Department of Transportation Commissioner William Cass, and McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery center Executive Director Jeanne Gerulskis, where they discussed solar eclipse plans, from safety plans to traffic concerns.

"This is a rare opportunity to get outside and enjoy,” said Gerulskis. “The next solar eclipse is 2079, and I don’t know about you but I probably won't be here, unless they figure out how to download my brain to a robot's body.”

New Hampshire’s North Country braces for the eclipse

Colebrook is not the only town bracing for a huge inundation of eclipse fanatics. The eclipse’s path of totality will pass through towns in the north country from Lancaster north to the Canadian border. Other towns include Dixville Notch, Pittsburg and Errol. 

The deluge of people may cause some problems in northern New Hampshire, which is prepared for snowmobilers in the winter and hunters in the summer, but not umbraphiles (eclipse chasers).

April is usually a quiet time of year for the region, when snow gives way to mud season. But this year, Harnois said, the 10,000 rooms available in the Great North Woods tourism region are sold out. That number doesn’t include day travelers or people coming up to stay with friends or family in the region.

“The number one question that we've been getting throughout this whole process is, 'How many people are coming in?'" said Harnois. “It's a really difficult question to answer. There's lots of variables that go into that.”

She said officials have encouraged eclipse visitors to come early, but there are still many unknown factors like who will do a day trip and the weather.

Stevens said he’s been getting calls from people in Rhode Island, Eastern Massachusetts, and Eastern Maine. 

“The path of totality is a lot more phenomenal than not being in the path of totality,” he said. “It’s gonna be a lot.”

Traffic, parking, and safety concerns

Another complication is the nor'easter that hit the region this past week.

“We did have about a foot of snow dumped out there over the last day and a half,” Stevens said. “But even with that we’re still not canceling the eclipse!”

However, the snow adds another complication to safe viewing areas, parking, and roads. Stevens said while people might feel inspired to hike out to the middle of a field or walk out on an ice-covered lake, he said neither are safe. 

A foot of snow covers mud in fields, where people and vehicles could get stuck with limited numbers of tow trucks in the area to save them. Ice on the lakes is not thick enough to support people. While Colebrook is setting up aid stations around town and has a hospital nearby, resources will still be limited in a town that has never seen this many visitors.

Maj. David Walsh of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said that people should not try to hike up the mountains to watch the eclipse, describing trail conditions as “brutal” with deep snow.

“If you want to enjoy the mountains, book another trip,” he said.

There is also limited parking in the region and only a few main roads. Officials urged visitors to use designated parking lots, rather than risk getting stuck in mud at the side of the road. Colebrook has a list of authorized parking areas  on the town's website. 

Cass said visitors should only use major travel roads, and keep minor roads to local traffic only. He and other officials encouraged the eclipse chasers to come early and stay late to avoid overcrowding the roads, many of which are only one lane each way and not designed to handle this type of unprecedented event. Cass said people can check real-time traffic updates at newengland511.org .

“Pack your patience,” said Sununu.

More: The April total solar eclipse could snarl traffic for hours across thousands of miles

Weather forecast is sunny

New Hampshire is not known for being sunny in April:  historical weather data  gives Colebrook a 52% chance of clear skies. But Monday’s weather forecast called for sun as of Friday.

This gives visitors a great chance to see the eclipse, but it also means the state is anticipating an even greater amount of visitors.

“There are folks from across the country that want to see totality, right, and they have 13 different states to choose from. One of the issues is that it looks like the weather in the southern half of the United States is not going to be great,” said Sununu. “I got a call from someone in Texas yesterday saying they were flying into Boston, and should they come to New Hampshire or Burlington, Vermont or Maine to see it.”

However, he emphasized, if people give themselves time to get up and back down in the state, New Hampshire has the resources to handle the influx in people.

Despite their warnings, all of the officials encouraged everyone to be excited and to enjoy what Harnois called a “once-in-a-lifetime event.”

“New Hampshire is very lucky. We're only one of 13 states in America that are going to see this total solar eclipse,” said Harnois.

For more information, like where to go to watch the eclipse, parking and medical station maps, and educational resources, Harnois said to go to nhsolareclipse.com .

Tourism opportunity for NH could go beyond eclipse on April 8

Sununu said he expects New Hampshire to be one of the top destinations in the New England region for the rare event. It will bring higher levels of tourism to the state during a time that’s usually a lull, and he plugged New Hampshire’s tax free status.

“You can sit in your car and in traffic, or you can visit a restaurant and one of our tax-free stores and enjoy all the economic opportunity that New Hampshire has to offer,” he said.

Stevens said he has held presentations for local businesses in Colebrook to ensure they’re stocked up and ready for the flood of tourists.

Harnois said it’s a great opportunity for those outside of the state to see New Hampshire and “hopefully book another vacation.”

Sununu said the state has been working with local communities and businesses to make sure “that one moment on Monday afternoon goes as smooth as possible.”

Seacoast eclipse watch parties April 8: Here's where and when

On April 8, the Portsmouth Public Library is hosting a watch party with eclipse activities and trivia prior to the peak of the eclipse around 3:30 p.m.

“You will have the option of watching the eclipse live from the field beside the library or inside the Levenson Community Room where we will show the NASA live stream on the large screen,” the library’s event description notes.

Two hundred pairs of free eclipse glasses will be available at the event, which lasts from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Registration for the event is not required. 

The Dover Public Library is offering a similar watch party to view the partial eclipse outdoors on April 8. The Garrison City is expected to see the moon blocking 95% of the sun during the event.

“Snacks, crafts and music will all be part of the fun, as we view this rare phenomena together. Bring a lawn chair, grab a snack and eclipse glasses, or make a viewfinder, and discover and explore with us,” the library says.

The event at 73 Locust St. will run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The lawn in front of the picturesque Thompson Hall clock tower at the University of New Hampshire in Durham is expected to be teeming with students, faculty and staff waiting for the peak of the partial eclipse next Monday. 

The school is having its own watch party on the lawn, with certified eclipse glasses designed by a university student available for use during the event. The school’s watch party will also be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

One of the school’s two Wildcat mascots, Wild E. Cat, will pose for photos with guests as the state’s flagship university counts down to the eclipse. 

“There won’t be another chance to view a total eclipse like this over North America for decades,” per the university’s event announcement.

Ian Lenahan contributed to this report.

Stock Analysis

• Saudi Arabia
• Hospitality

Tourism Enterprises Full Year 2023 Earnings: ر.س0.03 loss per share (vs ر.س0.006 loss in FY 2022)

Tourism Enterprises ( TADAWUL:4170 ) Full Year 2023 Results

Key financial results.

• Net loss: ر.س44.2m (loss widened by ر.س37.0m from FY 2022).
• ر.س0.03 loss per share (further deteriorated from ر.س0.006 loss in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Tourism Enterprises shares are up 1.1% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

Be aware that Tourism Enterprises is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis and 1 of those is a bit concerning...

Valuation is complex, but we're helping make it simple.

Find out whether Tourism Enterprises is potentially over or undervalued by checking out our comprehensive analysis, which includes fair value estimates, risks and warnings, dividends, insider transactions and financial health.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

About SASE:4170

Tourism enterprises.

Tourism Enterprises Co. engages in the managing of tourism buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Flawless balance sheet and overvalued.

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What’s keeping New York’s ‘eclipse czar’ up at night

ALBANY, N.Y. — When a total solar eclipse starts to curve across New York state at about 3:17 p.m. on April 8 , Jessica DeCerce will be somewhere near Buffalo.

It’s not out of fondness for the city on the shores of Lake Erie, although that is considerable. It’s because Buffalo — the first large city in the eclipse’s path through New York — is the “tip of the spear,” DeCerce says, a test of whether months of careful planning have paid off.

DeCerce has overseen those preparations since 2022, making her New York’s unofficial “eclipse czar.” (The term makes her cringe; she prefers to say she is coordinating the state’s eclipse response.) Her task: to maximize tourism while avoiding disaster.

While no one knows exactly how the day will unfold, New York is expecting up to a million people to converge on the “path of totality,” a roughly 100-mile-wide swath of the state where they can experience the awe-inspiring sight of the sun blotted out by the moon.

2024 total solar eclipse

One state official likened it to preparing for a cross between a blizzard and a very big party. Another described it as “a thousand Woodstocks,” the iconic 1969 hippie festival multiplied many times over. The event could inject more than $100 million into New York’s economy, according to preliminary state estimates.

Over the past 18 months, a multiagency task force has been meeting to plan for the event, a process run by DeCerce, who did not have prior experience with eclipses. (To use insider parlance, she was no umbraphile , but rapidly became one.)

There was no playbook she could consult. The last total solar eclipse to cross New York was in 1925 and the next one will not arrive until 2079 . By that time “I’ll be dead,” DeCerce, 53, says cheerily.

What she did know was the state needed to get serious about planning: When the last total solar eclipse crossed the United States in 2017 , some places experienced apocalyptic traffic jams after the celestial show ended and drivers started returning home en masse. Some bottlenecks stretched for 70 miles . Drivers reported being stuck in their cars for more than 10 hours for trips that usually took a small fraction of that time.

DeCerce says she sometimes wakes up in the middle of the night, seized by some eclipse-related task to add to her to-do list. She scribbles it down on a piece of paper or on her phone, then tries to go back to sleep. Over and over, she asks herself: “What are we missing? What else do we need to think about?”

On a recent Monday morning, DeCerce stood in a gray dress and black blazer clutching two cellphones, watching intently as senior New York state officials kicked off a burst of publicity for the final two weeks before the eclipse.

Players for the Buffalo Bills had recorded a public service announcement with tips (wear eclipse glasses, check the weather, pay attention to traffic alerts). Kathryn Garcia, New York’s director of state operations, talked about the majesty of the 360-degree sunset during totality and the little-known Purkinje effect , an altered perception of colors caused by the eclipse.

Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) addressed the event via video from the nearby Capitol building where she was enmeshed in budget negotiations. Hochul, who will watch the eclipse from Niagara Falls State Park, implored people not to jump back on the road as soon as it’s over.

“We’re just trying to anticipate all the variables that could go wrong,” she said in an interview. “But we expect they’re going to go right.”

DeCerce’s day had begun early. She had already jumped on a call with about a dozen state agencies reviewing public safety plans for the eclipse. The rest of the week would bring briefings with the governor and other state officials, a call with Canadian officials in Ontario on cross-border coordination, a final meeting of the eclipse task force, and dozens of other calls related to the preparations.

One hurdle she faced early on was skepticism from fellow officials, some of whom questioned why an eclipse required months of preparation, especially when there were urgent crises to tackle.

Jackie Bray, the commissioner of New York’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, recalled her initial reaction as one of amused incredulity. “We were like, really? It’s two years away,” Bray said. “Someone at my agency said, ‘We’re going to treat it how we treat it every day when the sun goes down.’”

No one is joking anymore. Bray credited DeCerce with keeping the eclipse “front and center” and conveying specific requests to the government machinery. “You don’t leave us guessing,” Bray said. “You say, ‘Jackie, I need you to be able to plan for 10 hours of gridlock in the Adirondacks.’”

By early afternoon, DeCerce was working in a borrowed office in the state Capitol, juggling eclipse-related tasks and regular responsibilities connected to the budget talks. Her day job is as director of interagency operations for the state, and she is usually based in Syracuse. On one of her phones, a countdown app ticked down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until the eclipse’s arrival.

Some aspects of the preparations are predictable: State officials told towns and counties long ago to order portable toilets before stocks ran out, DeCerce said. They’re also in touch with cellphone providers ahead of anticipated strains on telecommunication networks.

The cascading impacts of congestion are a major focus. It’s not just that traffic is guaranteed, but that people could be stuck for hours, running out of food, water, gas and heat, officials say. Any stopped or broken-down cars also become obstacles to the flow of traffic and emergency vehicles.

Other challenges that turned up in the planning process were more unusual, DeCerce said. Most of Adirondack Park is in the path of totality, and officials say there may be an influx of hikers seeking to experience the eclipse at the summits of its high peaks, something they’re discouraging (it’s also mud season). Where there are more hikers, there may be more need for search and rescue personnel, requiring advance staffing.

State officials have urged banks to make sure ATMs are stocked with cash and gas station operators to top off their supplies of fuel. They’ve contacted trucking associations and asked them to keep double tractor-trailers off the state thruway the day of the eclipse. They’re beefing up the number of heavy tow trucks but also “help trucks” that can transport a few gallons of gas or food to stranded drivers.

They’ll also be able to assist electric vehicles that have run out of charge, DeCerce notes, then reconsiders. “Let’s not advertise that,” she says, only half-joking. She’d prefer people to be prepared and have a healthy fear of getting stuck.

The eclipse task force has also run through more dire scenarios. In February, New York officials rehearsed how they would respond if the eclipse coincided with an emergency: the eclipse plus a blizzard, or the eclipse plus a communications failure. The idea was to push people to brainstorm, DeCerce said. “It’s getting them ready for the curveball.”

Before joining state government, DeCerce’s career included stints as chief of staff to a state senator and as assistant to the president of a public university. She’s most comfortable behind the scenes and not in the spotlight. When people tell her she is “running” the eclipse, or that it’s “JD’s eclipse,” or mention the term “eclipse czar,” she winces.

She stresses that she is not an emergency manager and relies on Jennifer Wacha, an official at the New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, who co-chairs the task force. The two speak so often that DeCerce jokes they are now communicating “telepathically.”

The same is true of Richard Gagliano, the other co-chair, an official from Empire State Development who has helmed all eclipse-related marketing. An agency spokesperson said New York promoted the event using existing tourism budgets and awarded nearly $500,000 to support four local projects , including a pre-eclipse concert.

Meanwhile, the app on DeCerce’s phone continues its relentless countdown. One wild card: the forecast. Not only is there a good chance of cloudy weather in Upstate New York in early April, which would foil hopes for clear skies, but there is also the possibility of inclement weather, including snow.

On the morning of March 26, DeCerce joined a Zoom call that served as the last official meeting of the eclipse task force. It was a bittersweet moment. The long period of planning was over; now all that remained was to execute.

The 60 participants on the call received final updates on marketing and public safety. The free eclipse glasses provided by the state had proved so popular that they had to ration supply. Three emergency operations centers are set to open in different parts of the state on the day of the eclipse.

DeCerce spoke last. “Eighteen months ago, when we formed this task force, I think we all took some ribbing from our colleagues,” she said. “Suffice it to say, they are not laughing anymore.”

She thanked all the members of the task force “from the bottom of my heart” for sharing their expertise. “I can’t believe this is it.”

As DeCerce wrapped up, the chat filled with well wishes. “Good luck with the weather everyone!” one participant wrote. Another chimed in with the umbraphile’s credo: “Totality or bust!!!”

A total solar eclipse will pass across the United States on Monday, April 8. See what the eclipse will look like in your city .

Path of totality: Our interactive visual map allows you to traverse the eclipse’s path from Mexico to Maine. If you’re traveling for the eclipse , we rounded up the top things to do in several major cities prime for viewing. In Carbondale, Ill., lucky residents are preparing to experience totality for the second time in seven years .

Preparing for the eclipse: The most important thing you’ll need is eclipse glasses — here’s how to get them and avoid buying fakes . If you want to capture the magic of the moment, check out our guide for photographing the eclipse with your phone. Here’s what to expect in terms of cloud cover and eclipse traffic .

The science: This eclipse may be especially dramatic because the sun is at its most active period in two decades. In the past, solar eclipses have helped scientists learn more about the universe . Here’s everything else you need to know about the solar eclipse.

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