Currituck
Travel & Tourism to Step up Online Marketing
Anticipating a slower summer season due to the economic recession, the Currituck County Travel and Tourism Department met recently with representatives from local property management companies and members of the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to discuss options for boosting the tourism market.
The winter season is typically the time when tourists book vacation homes for the upcoming summer season. In recent weeks, many of the rental companies have said the number of bookings for this time of year are down, and they fear the 2009 season might not bring as many visitors to the area. In an effort to increase rental home and hotel reservations, the Travel and Tourism Department believes the best way to bring immediate relief is to utilize internet marketing. The Tourism Department sees the Internet as the quickest and least expensive way to attract visitors, who are relying on the web more than ever before to research and book vacations.
Plans for targeting this demographic include sending out e-blasts, or electronic advertisements, to thousands of people who have requested vacation information. E-blasts will feature rotating advertisements that promote local companies. The Tourism Department currently has a database of over 50,000 people who would receive the e-blasts. The department will also focus on pay-per-clicks, a technique that utilizes keywords to get more hits on a website, to draw in more visitors. In addition, there are plans to make the Currituck Travel and Tourism Department’s website more user friendly with the addition of a blogging site for visitors who are seeking more information on the area.
On January 12, the Currituck Board of Commissioners gave initial approval to grant the Travel and Tourism Department an additional $300,000 to spend on tourism promotion. Occupancy tax, a 6% tax charged to visitors on motel and cottage rentals, will fund the efforts.
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5 comments for “Travel & Tourism to Step up Online Marketing”
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Well, ya’ll know I’m going to comment on this one. I think the 6% tax is way too much and if we cut it back to 4% we would give the tourists’ wallets a break and then put 1% into our general coffers. 6% all going to tourist related endeavors is too much and leaves a big pot full of easy money for unnecessary things like consultants. I visited the website in question and was interested in the fact that it links to certain purveyors of rentals. It appears that the county is endorsing this certain group. Is it (the web links) a pay to play deal or just what kind of deal? And on that are these e-blasts linked to that certain list or are they generic in the delivery.
While I have disagreed in the past on spending that money on magazine ads in the northeast, I cannot argue with spending it on e-blasts and targetted marketing.
It is a good expenditure especially when some of this work can be done right here in Currituck.
In the scheme of things, backing off the tax by 2% is not going to make a difference. Travel and Tourism needs to use that money as wisely as possible, and whenever possible use it with local businesses.
Just my 2 cents…
-J
Are you e-blasting, my friend? :) Hope you can get a bit of it since it’s going to be spent.
I’m still for reducing the tax. Too much money sitting around in accounts with no real check and balance. The tourism authority/ advisory board should not be the whole of the comm’s plus the tourism director. This needs changing.
Just sayin’.
Actually I am researching the e-blasting mechanism right now.
There seems to be some question whether I can do consulting for the county and still be objective in the newspaper business.
I spent an hour on the phone today with Jennifer Preyss of TDA. Seems someone forwarded her an email send from myself to D. Nordstrom and the Board of Commissioner regarding our consulting services.
Oh well, can’t wait to see what she writes. Should be a jewel!
-J
Wow, a mole inside the county for the TDA. Who would have guessed?