It’s National Tourism Week

Happy National Tourism Week! We encourage you to be a tourist in your own backyard, and here’s an idea of where to start. May 17th is International Museum Day, with free admission and activities from 11 until 4 at the Edison Birthplace, Milan Museum, Follett House, Maritime Museum of Sandusky, Merry-Go-Round Museum and the Ohio Veterans Home Museum.

Have you seen our new travel planner, with a new size, look, and Shore Savings card? Included in the travel planner is an updated attraction map, perforated and ready to pull out and use. For almost 20 years, I’ve been told a travel planner will soon go away, with access to all information on-line. But the demand is still there, and we print nearly 400,000 copies and massively distribute them. Two new studies on the role and effectiveness of Visitor Guides documented insightful data. Both studies found those using travel planners increased the number of attractions and events they consumed during their trips. They also caused visitors to increase their length of stay by an average of 1.9 days. Another key finding was the amount of time spent reading a visitor guide. Forty five percent spent more than 45 minutes reading the guide, and another 53% spent between 15 and 45 minutes. Considering the average destination website session is in the 3-5 minute range, the quality of time spent with a travel planner convinces consumers to visit more attractions, stay longer and spend more.

Stop by our Welcome Center on U.S. 250 to pick up a travel planner so you can help your friends and family visiting this summer. We have information for you to peruse, and suggestions of other stops your guests may enjoy. Our friendly travel counselors can help with schedules, attractions costs, hours and so much more. We hope to see you soon.

It’s National Tourism Week