Commissioners Approve Marketing Boost for Tourism

Provided by the Tourism Dept., Dec. 16, 2009

In an effort to attract more vacationers to Currituck County, the Currituck Board of Commissioners has approved $300,000 in additional funds for tourism promotion. The money will go towards funding a comprehensive marketing campaign being organized by the County's Tourism Department and supported by the Tourism Advisory BOA.

The campaign will focus on internet advertising and will include pay-per-click advertising, image ads, and marketing on social networks such as Facebook and YouTube. It is being paid for out of occupancy tax, the lodging tax paid by visitors staying overnight in Currituck County hotels, vacation rental homes, and other lodging properties.

A similar marketing program was conducted last winter by the Tourism Department. The program proved to be successful, resulting in a 450% increase in traffic to the County's tourism website and leading to a spike in vacation rental and hotel bookings.

According to Diane Nordstrom, Director of Travel and Tourism for Currituck, the Tourism Department and commissioners are addressing the concerns of local businesses about the economy and its impact on tourism, Currituck's largest industry.

"Tourism related businesses have been telling us that they're concerned about the upcoming summer season and fear the continuing economic recession will negatively impact the 2010 bookings," Nordstrom said. "We've put together a marketing plan that will give Currituck County an advantage over many other destinations. It's an aggressive plan designed to attract more vacationers to the County, thus increasing visitor spending and bringing more tax revenues to the County's coffers."

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. Last year's strategic marketing campaign won a first-place platinum award from the Destination Marketing Association of North Carolina. It was deemed Best Destination Marketing Initiative in the state.