State Tourism Promotion Under Way

With the warming weather, many area businesses are preparing the upcoming summer tourism season.  At the same time, promotional campaigns have already been launched by the state Travel and Tourism Commission.  Assistant Director Alan Dubberly says the theme this year once again is “Roam Free.”  Dubberly says the extensive plan covers similar markets as in the past including Denver, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Portland – the latter being a key market for the state last year that performed very well.  He says the $6-million campaign utilizes television, online, newspaper inserts, and magazines and kicked off late last month. Dubberly says one change in the TV ads from last year is the addition of Robert Duvall to voice the message.  Dubberly says the news this year of direct flights from nine major cities into Jackson Hole this summer is good news for the entire state.  He explains that having flights come directly into the state is a major factor because if they come into Denver, Salt Lake or one of the other regional hubs, quoting now: “there are days or attractions or enticements that could cause them to spend time and money outside the state.”  Consequently he says bringing them right into the state is a definite benefit; not only for the Jackson area but for the state as a whole.  While it’s still early, travel officials say advance reservations in the state already look promising.