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30 Tourism Boards Share What They're Doing Now & Future Plans

Alex Temblador
by Alex Temblador
Last updated:: 7:01 AM ET, Thu May 14, 2020

Tourism Boards Fight On

1/31
With tourism and travel temporarily halted due to the pandemic, tourism boards and CVBs have been racing to serve their communities and travelers in various ways. We asked leaders of tourism boards from around the world what they've been doing, their plans for re-opening, and what they think travel will look like for their destination when the pandemic is over. Check it out.

New Orleans & Company

2/31
What has New Orleans & Company been doing during the pandemic?

New Orleans & Company has been concentrating on our convention, meeting and travel professional partners, offering the latest updates and resources on the COVID-19 situation in New Orleans. Until we can welcome you and your clients back to New Orleans again, our team has assembled some sights and sounds of the city for you. Take a virtual trip to some of New Orleans' most sought after attractions, enjoy local live stream concerts from the city where jazz was created, and refresh your New Orleans knowledge with our recently updated Travel Agent Certification Courses.

What is New Orleans & Company doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

New Orleans is a one-of-a-kind city, that has proven to be resilient. We have been through many challenges over the years, and we have no doubt that we will get through this new one together and come out stronger and smarter than ever. Following the direction of the CDC, the U.S. Travel Association and the state of Louisiana, New Orleans businesses will implement new protocols to ensure that the highest standards of sanitation and cleanliness are in place for our community and guests.

Discover Puerto Rico

3/31
What has Discover Puerto Rico been doing during the pandemic?

At Discover Puerto Rico, we first focused our efforts on ensuring the safety and security of those on the Island, while maintaining strong communications with stakeholders. In tandem, we adapted our strategy, making proactive decisions to ensure we set the stage for a major comeback.

Safety is the priority of not just our DMO, but the Island's government, which wasted no time implementing an Island-wide curfew at the onset of the pandemic, the first U.S. destination to do so, along with other strong measures which will ultimately helped lay a solid foundation for recovery. They include a thermographic camera system, the first used in the US, to take temperatures of inbound passengers at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU); a required quarantine for all visitors for 14 days, or the length of their stay; and the suspension of events through May 30th by the governor of San Juan.

As a very agile DMO, we shifted marketing tactics quickly, halting all paid media before launching our new virtual initiatives that brought the magic of Puerto Rico into people's homes. Discover Puerto Rico was the first to launch virtual vacations on Instagram Live, Facebook Live and Zoom, offering everything from a salsa dancing class, to a tour of El Yunque Rainforest. We've also launched live guided tours using Google Earth, the first destination to ever do so, which highlight our "off the beaten path" experiences and make participants feel they're actually walking the streets of Puerto Rico with the street view feature. Our DMO produced a serene "Sounds of Puerto Rico" video collection, available on YouTube, that can be used to meditate or simply take a pause during this time. Also available are museum tours, virtual puzzles, Puerto Rico-themed zoom backgrounds and traditional recipes to enjoy at home. We also launched a new campaign titled "All in Good Time," reminding travelers that as much as we would love to host them, we know it's not the right time. Now is the time to stay safe. The elements highlighted in the content, are some of which truly define Puerto Rico - the natural wonders of the Island.

Additionally, we're offering resources on navigating this unprecedented time to our valued partners in the industry - from hotels, to restaurants and tour operators - via a video training series, the first of its kind, consisting of 10 minute training sessions on our YouTube channel that assist in key marketing and sales areas, with recommendations on engaging with audiences during this crisis.

Our sales team has also altered strategies amid COVID-19. Shortly after the lockdown, the team convened a meeting of a newly developed Customer Advisory Board to help guide the development of a road map to recovery, administering a global meeting planner survey to understand more about present sentiment and our "new normal." The data received allows for the adaption of our webinars and virtual presentations to address what meeting planners are most interested in. The team also created specialized coffee care packages for planners, from a local hacienda (or plantation) encouraging them to take a well-deserved coffee break during this time.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

We anticipate a heightened focus on sanitation practices worldwide, and this will be paramount for Puerto Rico. We have thorough cleanliness measures in place, and enhanced policies are being developed that will follow the U.S. Travel Association (USTA) Health and Safety guidelines, based on CDC and White House procedures. This, paired with locally enforced measures, developed by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, will position the Island as the gold standard in health and safety in the Caribbean and beyond. These measures include intricate disinfection procedures, such as those occurring in key facilities like the San Juan Convention Center - the largest and most technologically advanced in the Caribbean - and will see new employee training protocols inclusive of temperature checks and protective equipment. We'll also see the addition of innovative technology like that underway at the Island's Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve, which will add a UV light air purifying AC system to their restaurants and meeting spaces, among other things.

Another trend expected in the near term is a decrease in international travel and a focus on domestic travel. Puerto Rico has acted quickly and aggressively to set the stage for recovery and while having the appeal of an international destination, with no passport or currency exchange requirement.

What is Discover Puerto Rico doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

Our DMO has developed a COVID-19 Action Plan to manage the disruption lifecycle effectively and mitigate the impact on tourism by steering a rapid recovery plan for the Island. The factors driving this plan include health department guidance, government mandates, airline updates, evaluation of our product, and most importantly - research - which has been integral in all decisions made by Discover Puerto Rico.

This was made possible by our investment in crisis preparedness, allowing us to act quickly and efficiently to mobilize resources. We developed a preparedness playbook, which covered a diverse array of scenarios, including airborne contagion, before COVID-19 arose. We also have quarterly crisis drills to ensure the team is equipped. Through this careful scenario planning, our team had a clear guide as to next steps to ensure safety, security and communication.

Our strong network of communications among our team and local stakeholders in Puerto Rico has also been critical amid COVID-19 and will be instrumental as we approach phases of reopening. This, first and foremost, helps ensure the safety and security of those on the Island, but has also allowed for our various initiatives amid COVID-19, highlighting local talent and offerings, to come to fruition successfully. The trust built with local partners will also allow for the adaptation to the "new normal," to be smooth.

On the marketing front - we'll be evaluating a variety of factors before ultimately creating awareness that the destination is open for business. We'll then launch the next phase of our "All in Good Time" campaign, fittingly titled "It's Time." Speaking to our agility, we strategically built this campaign to be a phased approach - to first inspire, and later build confidence - understanding what was ultimately lying ahead for the destination, although timing for this is to be determined. Everything we've put in place to keep Puerto Rico in the hearts and minds of future travelers will inspire them to visit the Island when the time is right.

Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB

4/31
What has Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB been doing during the pandemic?

According to Stacy Ritter, President & CEO of Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB:

A lot! We have actively engaged with our tourism partners to keep them informed with the latest information, provided marketing and promotional support for local restaurants, we are featuring stories on the amazing local heroes in the community, and our leisure sales team has developed a tourism-themed online learning program for elementary and middle school kids, promoted virtual vacation and wellness opportunities and more. See the attached press release for details on these initiatives and more.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?



We expect visitation to start with short getaways from nearby drive markets, expanding to drive markets from nearby states and expanding all the way up the east coast. We agree with many industry experts who see a longer recovery period for visitation by air travel. One change we can see going forward is the enhanced cleaning and sanitation protocols are likely to become a permanent addition to how hotels, restaurants and attractions do business.



What is Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?



Yes, we are providing economic support to attractions, museums and welcome centers. We just announced this program. Additionally, we are building a phased recovery marketing plan that begins with staycationers in South Florida and the Florida drive market and expanding to drive markets in other states, while watching for increases in intent to travel by air.

Switzerland Tourism

5/31
What has Switzerland Tourism been doing during the pandemic?

The U.S. market is the most important long-haul market for Switzerland Tourism. Our principal focus is to share our empathy with our American visitors. Therefore, in the framework of our communication we have decided to share inspiration through a small movie "Dream now - travel later", Social Media posts, webinars and tailor-made stories to enable past and future visitors to discover Switzerland from their respective homes.

Furthermore, the village of Zermatt commissioned the Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter to illuminate the Matterhorn with messages, including "Stay at Home"[and] "Hope." The Stars and Stripes was beamed in the night of April 25 onto the 14,600 ft Alpine mountain because we are all in this together.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

The pandemic has changed the consumer perspectives and not just in the short-term. We believe that people will be more attentive/sensitive to select their travel destinations and Switzerland would come as a natural choice. Our country offers what many travelers need or want: excellent service, no overtourism, freedom of space, the ideal way of a sustainable travel and exploring untouched nature. Switzerland is Europe's water reservoir. Some of the longest rivers on the continent originate here. We like to say that you can swim with your mouth open in Switzerland. Ultimately, Switzerland is a truly unique destination the territory enables the visitors to explore 4 distinctive languages and cultures: German, French, Italian and Romansh, all reachable in less than 200 miles.

What is Switzerland Tourism doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

It is still not known when Swiss borders will be fully opened to tourists from other countries, although June 8 has been earmarked as the start of the third phase of the plan to return the country to normality.

This fall, we will be showcasing Switzerland during the "Best of Switzerland" tour taking place across the U,S. and Canada in New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Montreal and Toronto alongside Swiss top destinations to media and Trade partners.

Australia's Tourism Northern Territory

6/31
What has Australia's Tourism Northern Territory been doing during the pandemic?

According to Executive General Manager of Marketing, Tony Quarmby:

The first actions Tourism Northern Territory (NT) initiated were focused on removing 90% of marketing activity from the market as the messaging was no longer appropriate for the conditions and travel access no longer available. While that was underway, Tourism NT engaged local businesses to understand what their survival needs were in terms of financial and employment issues. Once the Federal Government announced its national stimulus packages to assist business survival and job retention, the local Territory Government realigned the budget saved on destination marketing and placed it into stimulus packages to ensure as many tourism operators could survive the potentially long shut-down period as possible.

The remaining marketing funding was directed to tourism trade education and engagement and towards consumer-focused stories, content-based virtual escapism, and wanderlust dreaming. More recently Tourism NT has been working to scenario plan a sliding scale of strategic options to ensure no matter what recovery scenario plays out, the destination can launch back into the market at the right time to drive demand prior to the national and international borders and travel restrictions being released.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

Consumers the world over have learned new skills and tools, and many of those consumers will continue to use these skills well into the future. Some of those skills and tools include virtual meetings using platforms like Zoom, which will continue to reduce business travel and therefore the flow of the leisure component of that travel will also be reduced. The closure of many travel services such as travel retail storefronts and borderline profitable or overly competitive air routes will be reassessed and deemed no longer viable to restart, resulting in a reduction in travel services for some areas that existed mainly for historic and not financial reasons.

There is a school of thought that environmental and social sustainability in tourism experiences will increase in popularity, and built-up areas and high foot trafficked experiences will be seen as unsafe, so a rise in more remote nature-based destinations will be seen. However, I think the pull of large cities and existing heavily trafficked destinations will return relatively quickly due to their popularity and ease of access. The key to normality returning is the discovery and distribution of a vaccine, until that point, the term 'new-normal' will be heard more than we would want.

What is Australia's Tourism Northern Territory doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

At the strategic level, I don't think you'll find too many differences at Tourism NT from other tourism bodies, as everyone will focus on their local intra-state (intra-Territory for us) market initially - with inter-state travel following - and eventually international markets. Supporting local businesses and building on the empathy of helping your neighbors will be achieved by visiting and experiencing the region and kick-starting businesses.

Tourism NT has a plan to supercharge this by incentivizing Territorians to support their local market over the next few weeks. Locals will also be key to inviting and welcoming back our interstate friends, relatives, and NT advocates, but internationally driving demand will follow slowly market by market as key markets recover at different paces. For instance, the much-discussed Trans-Tasman bubble - which will see air access between Australia and New Zealand re-established - is predicted to be the first international route opened up for Australia due to the similar recovery trajectories of both markets, and advanced tracking initiatives introduced which will prevent potential second waves.

Pacific nations with no cases will follow, then eastern and western markets that have proven no new cases over a sustained period of time will be considered. Air access is, of course, crucial for an island nation such as Australia, both inbound and internally, and for the Northern Territory, driving airline demand and supporting the reintroduction of air routes will be imperative. Until then, the domestic drive market will be the bread and butter for tourism operators and considering almost the same amount of Australians travel overseas annually as international leisure visitors come to Australia, if we can encourage Australians to travel in their own backyard for the next 12-18 months the Northern Territory should come out of this crisis in one piece and ready to welcome back our global travelers once again.

Quintana Roo Tourism Board

7/31
What has Quintana Roo Tourism Board been doing during the pandemic?

According to Dario Flota, director of Quintana Roo Tourism Board:

Since January, the State of Quintana Roo, the Quintana Roo Tourism Board, and the tourism industry have worked diligently to follow the recommendations issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), as well as the Quintana Roo State Health Services Department (SESA), in coordination with Mexico's National Department of Epidemiology.

According to the strategy of Quintana Roo's Governor, Carlos Joaquín, the Quintana Roo Tourism Board activated a plan to support the economic recovery and has coordinated virtual meetings with the local and international travel industry, destinations, airlines, hotels, tour operators, cruise lines, travel agents and many others. The entire tourism industry is united behind these priorities and has been working tirelessly since January because their participation in a coordinated recovery campaign for the Mexican Caribbean and its destinations including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Isla Cozumel, Tulum, Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, Isla Holbox and Grand Costa Maya, will be essential.

We have held some webinars to promote the Mexican Caribbean destinations and activities to travel agents in preparation for the day the health crisis is over where we discussed the natural attractions, entertainment, air connectivity, hotel infrastructure, convention centers, archaeological zones, cultural diversity, and gastronomy of the Mexican Caribbean. Also we created a digital strategy, as part of the first segment we launched a campaign named "Paradise Can Wait" which provides a virtual sampling of the region's attractions and we invite the future travelers to Please Stay Home during these times, then a second part is focused on the people who work every day giving a warm, excellent and professional service in all over the state.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

I believe that tourism is always changing and evolving and this pandemic will bring us more ideas and protocols to apply in our destination. Today more than ever, people have the desire to travel and the travelers will be looking for a destination that can offer wellness, calm, gastronomy and certainly a place where they can feel safe with their families. I'm pretty sure that all members of the industry will be made aware of the destination's readiness to receive visitors and the enhanced health and hygiene protocols in place across the state and the locations frequented by tourists. Most travelers will be hyper-conscious of cleanliness and they will look for hotels that have stringent cleaning protocols in place and also they will be trying to connect with customized experiences, and private activities and fortunately the Mexican Caribbean has it all.

What is Quintana Roo Tourism Board doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

The recovery strategy will first focus on ensuring the swift return of direct air connectivity to the state's three international airports in Cancun, Cozumel and Chetumal. In parallel to this effort, all members of the industry will be made aware of the destination's readiness to receive visitors and the enhanced health and hygiene protocols in place across the state and the locations frequented by tourists. Consumers will be engaged with creative materials and targeted messaging using advertising, public relations, digital and social media. In addition to the domestic travel market in Mexico, key international markets included in the campaign will include the United States, Canada, Latin America and Europe.

The campaign will be rolled out in several phases, closely aligned with the lifting of travel restrictions and resumption of direct flights and the exact timing will remain flexible in order to adapt to the changing environment for recovery in the coming months. Working together with both the domestic and international tourism industry, the Quintana Roo Tourism Board is committed to investing in the critical recovery period to come. Some of the airlines, through virtual meetings, that have announced they are resuming their operations at the Cancun International Airport are Air Canada, Air Transat, Delta Airlines, Copa Airlines, Air Europa, Sunwing, Southwest, American Airlines, JetBlue and Aeromexico.

I can share with you that our PR Department at an initial stage for the domestic travel market is planning to receive press trips and influencers from Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey and they are going to have an itinerary where we are looking to promote Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Riviera Maya. In addition to this press trip, it's going to be another one related to the stunning islands in the Mexican Caribbean: Holbox, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. For the international travel market (Canada and US), the press trip will cover gastronomy, wellness and family adventure meanwhile for LATAM will include golf and adventure.

Visit Rwanda

8/31
What has Visit Rwanda been doing during the pandemic?

RDB took decisive actions to limit the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the health of our citizens and our wildlife. These include the below:

To mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak, all arriving and departing commercial passenger flights, including RwandAir, were halted at midnight on March 20th, 2020, for an initial 30-day period.

- All tourism and research activities in Akagera, Nyungwe, Volcanoes and Gishwati-Mukura National Parks have been suspended until further notice as a preventive measure against the transmission of COVID-19. Park staff has been reduced and remain at their patrol posts to minimize time spent near gorillas.

- Cancelations/postponement policies have been updated to accommodate travelers impacted during this time. For tourists who defer their visits, there will be no penalty if they want to change for the future.

- The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) launched a #VisitRwandaSoon campaign. The #VisitRwandaSoon campaign is to keep audiences engaged with tourism in Rwanda across social media and web platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. The initiative encourages tourists to "Stay Home and Travel Tomorrow," highlighting the importance of following prevention measures keeping Rwanda top of mind.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

After the pandemic, recovery will be a gradual process. Tourism will resume first with domestic and regional tourism, while destinations continue promotions for the international markets. Health and safety of visitors/tourists will be of utmost importance to the destination's attractions.

What is Visit Rwanda doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

With an eased lockdown as of May 4, restaurants and hotels are now operational with strengthened precautions. The board established new standards for health & safety for tourism entities, especially hotels and restaurants. All entities are being inspected to ensure alignment to the standards.

RDB's post-Covid-19 response strategies are currently still being outlined and put in place for international, regional and domestic markets.

VisitLEX

9/31
What has VisitLEX been doing during the pandemic?

According to Mary Quinn Ramer, President of VisitLEX:

In partnership with local non-profit community kitchen, FoodChain, and the historic Keeneland Racehorse, we launched Nourish Lexington - a two-pronged effort that supports both the local hospitality industry and those in our community who are in need of a fresh meal. This program hires displaced restaurant workers and leverages their foodservice expertise and available kitchen facilities to provide meals to impoverished locals, families and schoolchildren in need, addressing the growing need for ready-to-eat meals due to exponentially rising unemployment. Within its first month of service, Nourish Lexington has distributed more than 22,000 meals and hired 21 local food professionals. Our community has truly come together to lend a helping hand to those in need - donating funds, contributing their own food products, and even offering to use their sites as meal distribution points - we are so grateful to be in great company of such a strong-spirited and hospitable community.

As soon as travel came to a halt, we immediately went to the drawing board to figure out ways to keep travelers, as well as our community, engaged virtually. For example, through live video programming on our Facebook page, we were able to bring virtual experiences right to their doorstep --i.e. live tours of area horse farms, creating delicious bourbon cocktails with local bartenders, virtual distillery tours, cooking demos showcasing regional specialties with local chefs, etc. - and including the option at the end of each video to donate funds to the respective business.

For those looking to break away from the screens, we also launched a 1-800 number hotline that features the most iconic sounds of Lexington, from Keeneland Racecourse's infamous "Call to Post" and bourbon barrels rolling at Woodford Reserve Distillery to a little bit of horse farm ASMR - horses eating apples, carrots, and hay, letting out a friendly "neigh", etc. Our goal was, and still is, to keep everyone's spirits high while still finding ways to support the community, because the best way we will get through this is by doing so together.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

While our world and the way people travel will forever be changed, the travel industry will bounce back. Moving towards summer, we anticipate seeing smaller groups and more regional road-trippers than usual, as the climb back to air travel will be a slow ascent. Travelers will also seek more open-air, nature-filled experiences after spending so much time indoors, so will be headed to nearby destinations with ample opportunity to get outside. Here in Lexington, we're excited to welcome travelers back to some of our favorite outdoor spots, like the Red River Gorge (great for hiking!), our championship horse farms through Visit Horse Country's behind-the-scenes tours, and - of course - drives along the rolling hills to visit one of our many historic bourbon distilleries.

What is VisitLEX doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

Kentucky is taking a measured approach to reopening, and we are following the guidance of health officials as we begin planning the reopening of the travel economy in Lexington. We are working in tandem with the Lexington Mayor's Office and have been asked to lead the recovery conversation for all of the different types of businesses that make up the larger travel industry. We are also working very closely with leadership at the Kentucky Department of Tourism and the Kentucky Travel Industry Association in putting together best practices and resources for each of the business sectors that fall within tourism.

Visit Fort Worth

10/31


What has Visit Fort Worth been doing during the pandemic?

According to Mitch Whitten, EVP of Marketing & Strategy for Visit Fort Worth:

As soon as the pandemic started affecting the nation, Visit Fort Worth created a dedicated page on its website providing up to date information on COVID-19 and has also utilized Discover Fort Worth, Visit Fort Worth's official blog to provide information on ways to support the city - locally and from afar. Through the blog, web visitors can find content promoting: virtual ways to experience the city while travel is on hold, local establishments offering take-out, curbside pickup, delivery options, and gift cards for purchase through a newly created restaurants page, information on ways to support local musicians and artists and resources for small business support during COVID-19 for locals in need of help.

Visit Fort Worth also created a public service campaign, appropriately titled "Y'all Stay Home," cross-promoted by the City of Fort Worth and Mayor to promote staying home to help flatten the curve. As restaurants and various retail establishments reopen throughout the state, the City of Fort Worth, Visit Fort Worth and area chambers partnered to promote responsible shopping as well as provide PPE supplies to businesses in need. In the coming weeks, a recovery campaign titled "Y'all Get Ready" will launch to local drive markets.

Downtown's Fort Worth Convention Center has been designated as an overflow homeless facility and is currently housing 355 people each night for the duration of concerns about social distance to tame the spread of the virus.

Hear Fort Worth and Film Fort Worth, with assistance from United Way of Tarrant County, recently created the Creative Industry Relief Fund to help support musicians, visual artists and filmmakers who have lost work due to COVID-19. The initiative spearheaded by Hear Fort Worth is an extension of local musician Rachel Gollay's Artist & Service Worker Relief Fund, which raised $10,000 and provided support of $200 per qualified applicant. Visit Fort Worth is the parent organization of Hear Fort Worth and Film Fort Worth.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

As early reports indicate that leisure travel will not begin until mid-to-late-summer, those with the ability to embark on a road trip through Texas and visit Fort Worth will be able to take advantage of the city's free and socially distant activities. Fort Worth is at one of the busiest crossroads in the country, and with many free attractions such as the world-class museums of the Cultural District and the world's only twice-daily cattle drive, Fort Worth is a great value for those in need of an easy escape. Consumer weariness of isolation coupled with travel restrictions will continue to take a toll on international travel for the next year, so the destination's first visitors will likely be Fort Worth locals.

What is Visit Fort Worth doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

Visit Fort Worth is working with local leaders to provide best practices for hotels and restaurants. Fort Worth's tourism partners continue to maintain the highest standards for sanitation with many venues taking additional steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases amongst residents and visitors. Local F+B establishments continue to offer curbside pickup and delivery options and are following guidelines established by the governor.

Visit California

11/31
What has Visit California been doing during the pandemic?

According to Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California:

As with any major crisis, our short-term priorities have shifted from brand campaigns to communications. We're working daily with state and local authorities and the 21,000-plus businesses in California that depend on tourism for their livelihoods. We're ensuring they have the information they need to make smart, informed policy and business decisions.

Visit California is encouraging would-be travelers to reflect on past trips, look to the future and be grateful for all who are helping us get through this difficult crisis. This is a socially led effort; we released two videos on our social channels. The first, 'Dream with Us,' serves as a reminder of our state's wonders, offering viewers a virtual escape and a moment to take pause and dream about exploring California once again. 'Thank You for Dreaming' expresses gratitude for the heroic front-line workers in health care, foodservice and hospitality.

We've also been encouraging fellow Californians to support local businesses through our California Takeout Tuesday social initiative, as well as inviting people from around the world to join the many virtual California offerings from our partners across the state - from wine tastings to educational experiences and much more.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

As always, the tourism industry will have to change to match the demands of consumers. That means meeting their evolving expectations for cleanliness and general safety while maintaining the level of enjoyment that travel has always provided.

Background:

The coronavirus pandemic has devastated California's tourism industry, erasing 10 consecutive years of growth.

- In 2019, California saw another record-breaking year, surpassing $144.9 billion in travel-related spending, supporting 1.2 million jobs and driving $12.2 billion in state and local tax revenue. (Dean Runyan Associates)

- California is expected to lose $72.1 billion in travel spending in 2020, about half of the overall tourism economy. (Tourism Economics)

- More than half of the tourism workforce - 613,000 workers -- are expected to lose their jobs by the end of May.

What is Visit California doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

Visit California is prepared for what may be a slow, tentative and jagged recovery as the crisis subsides across our state, the nation and the world. We expect that Californians - historically driving about three-fourths of California's travel economy - will support the state's initial recovery by traveling within the state, shopping locally and visiting local restaurants, wineries and attractions.

When the time is right, we'll also be focusing our efforts around promoting road trips, first to Californians and then to our western drive market, before a more national call to visit California.

Bermuda Tourism Authority

12/31
What has Bermuda Tourism Authority been doing during the pandemic?

According to Victoria Isley, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer:

Bermuda's motto is Quo Fata Ferunt - which means whither the fates shall carry us. It's indicative of the island's innate ability to persevere through any circumstances - and we've certainly taken that to heart during this time. The Bermuda Tourism Authority was initially focused on communication to visitors, trade and meeting planner clients about the status of travel restrictions, then quickly turned our attention to supporting our local community, adapting due to this unprecedented paradigm shift. Understandably, the island's borders have been closed since mid-March in order to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Before and after Bermuda's shelter-in-place restrictions, our team worked with local tourism partners to catalogue and communicate which restaurants and retail businesses were providing curbside pick-up or delivery services to help the economy continue and serve the local resident community. This included a Great Bermuda Takeout Day as well as a comprehensive Covid-19 Resources page that highlights how Bermuda fans can purchase retail and food items to be shipped to their homes until they can safely visit with us again. We've also been collaborating on creative ways we can bring the island to homes around the world through immersive online content. Our Bermuda motto video, 15 Second Virtual Vacations and online jigsaw puzzles showcase the breathtaking ocean views and iconic locations in Bermuda, while many talented Bermudian entrepreneurs are offering live experiences travelers can participate in, such as baking demos with Kamilah Cannonier of Sweet SAAK Bakery and foraging tours with Doreen Williams-James of Wild Herbs N Plants.

We are still looking optimistically forward to when travel is once again deemed safe, working in lockstep with government and stakeholders to develop an effective, safe and responsible recovery plan. Our team continues to conduct informational webinars for travel trade, meeting and sports event clients to keep them abreast of Bermuda's status now and plans for the future. Construction projects have resumed on-island. Our new airport terminal is nearing completion and the new St. Regis hotel development is still on schedule to open in April 2021.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

Just 21-square miles with a population of 65,000, Bermuda has always been a precious resource. We believe travelers will be craving a place and experience like Bermuda. While current forecasts indicate international travel will be slower to recover, though Bermuda is an international getaway that affords a relatively short flight from many major US cities. Once travel begins to resume, we do expect visitors to return soon after. Some of the travel trends expected to emerge as a result of the pandemic are a need for privacy/space in addition to a return to nature as travelers will seek ways to organically social distance. Experiences like being totally alone on one of Bermuda's famous pink sand beaches or chartering a boat to explore the Sargrasso Sea will more than satisfy this new luxury travel desire. Bermuda's strong infrastructure continues to keep the island a clean and safe destination and travelers will be seeking to visit places recognized for these standards. The variety of accommodation offerings also offers travelers the option to pick the type they feel is safest, whether it be a resort hotel with advanced post-COVID cleanliness protocols or an AirBnB home rental with their newly introduced cleanliness standards.

What is Bermuda Tourism Authority doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

As Bermuda re-opens in phases and airlines begin to increase flights to the island, we will be strategically executing our recovery efforts against this timeline. With more than 2,000 hospitality industry workers currently unemployed, our efforts are taking an inside-out approach, with a rolling calendar of initiatives designed to support the gradual reopening of Bermuda's economy. In tandem with the government's projected four phases of recovery, the BTA will engage local residents first to urge those still earning an income to spend some of it in the local economy-takeout food, Bermuda-inspired retail and golf might be the first you'll hear about. A campaign for staycations, yachting or spas could follow later in the year based on regulations, some of it held back to roll out around the time our airport lifts restrictions for non-residents and regularly scheduled commercial flights re-start.

As we move forward, it's important to shift our messaging to reflect the atmosphere of future travel, while also continuing to highlight what made Bermuda a top travel destination before the pandemic. Those same characteristics will continue to bring visitors on-island after it as well. Tactically, we're leading the charge with all our stakeholders to assist with their transition and re-opening in this post-COVID world ensuring they feel ready to receive off-island guests again. Sports tourism has been a major driver of visitors to the island so we're staying closely connected with organizers for rescheduled event dates and any other updates.

Tourism Authority of Thailand

13/31
What has Tourism Authority of Thailand been doing during the pandemic?

According to Charinya Kiatlapnachai, Director of TAT New York:

While travel is on hold, TAT launched a 'From Thailand With Love' campaign where partners in Thailand submit video content promoting Thai-inspired cooking, healthy home remedies (i.e. homemade teas) and workout tips for those craving a trip to the Land of Smiles. All videos can be found on a live blog on ThailandInsider.com, and on TAT's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Through TAT's social platforms, viewers will also be able to share their own videos through the hashtag #FromThailandWithLove.

In conjunction with their campaign, TAT has partnered with Thai restaurants throughout the Northeast to deliver meals to the resilient healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19. From now until late May, each restaurant will donate 100-300 Thai meals directly to each hospital in their respective region.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

Social distancing has allowed for nature to heal itself. After the crisis ends, there will be a stagnation of travel, allowing for those who decide to travel to see the beauty of nature undisturbed by too many tourists. This will lead to thought-provoking ways to manage tourism in a sustainable way. DMOs and travelers will be part of this shift in tourism by way of new practices in tourism initiatives and natural consumer behavior.

What is the Tourism Authority of Thailand doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

TAT understands that long-haul travel to Asia will likely come back last with most Americans looking to stay closer to home. Once it's safe to travel to Asia again, health and safety will be the top priority for every traveler. As a destination, TAT will need to work with partners to adapt their products and services to meet the needs of these new travelers. Private, smaller tours will also be provided. TAT will use this new opportunity to ensure Thailand is managing the capacity at their most populated tourism areas that will lead to a paradigm shift from over-tourism to sustainable tourism.

Visit Tucson

14/31


What has Visit Tucson been doing during the pandemic?

According to Dan Gibson, Senior Director of Communications:

In a strange way, our CVB has been as busy as ever during the pandemic - our mission has changed somewhat and in unexpected ways, but there's been plenty to do. One of the new additions has been working to support our community. We launched a promotion of take-out from local restaurants connected to our Sonoran Restaurant Week, we've worked with the mayor's office to support a community response fund, and we've even helped direct our partners to grant opportunities. However, the main emphasis of our organization has been to prepare ourselves for the relaunch of tourism - how will we market ourselves, how will we bring sporting events back to the region, how can we rebook conventions and meetings?


How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

I'm not sure I can say how tourism will definitively change in the long-term. I suspect it will, in the way that 9/11 changed the way we travel permanently, but also in ways we wouldn't have expected immediately. In the short-term, I imagine people will stick to shorter trips, and will make choices based on their comfort and how they perceive their safety. More road-trips, more desire for open spaces, more travel that reconnects you with the people you missed (whether that's family or friends). We hope that people think Tucson would fit well into their plans, but most of all, we hope they feel safe to travel at all, anywhere.

What is Visit Tucson doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

The first action item is to work with local and state officials to make sure we can make visiting Tucson as safe as possible and then communicating that information to people who might be interested. Beyond that, we're starting from the inside out - remind Tucsonans what they can experience in their own backyard, then trying to draw people from Phoenix looking to get away (but in a manageable way), then the markets with nonstop air service to Tucson. If only because it's the opposite of being stuck inside your own house for weeks, we'll be talking mostly about the wide open spaces here - the opportunity to explore a city that doesn't feel cramped or imposing. After that, we're hoping to get back to normal as soon as it's feasible, but that's true for everyone.

South Dakota Department of Tourism

15/31
What has South Dakota Department of Tourism been doing during the pandemic?

According to Katlyn Richter, Global Media & Public Relations Director:

First and foremost we have been taking care of our own South Dakota tourism industry. We have been compiling research for them to continue to educate themselves on what is next for the tourism industry. We've been helping them with the economic relief packages and ensuring they are utilizing those resources to get them through these trying times. At this point, we are also assisting their preparations for the reopening plans.

Second, we have been planning our own inspiration and forward-looking efforts through immediate response plans on social media, and campaigns that continue to inspire consumers as they dream and plan future travel. The South Dakota Department of Tourism continues to inspire travelers from across the nation as they anticipate traveling and exploring again. We continue to educate and inspire them on our social media channels, with targeted digital messages, and at TravelSouthDakota.com. Our goal has been to tell them to stay home at this point, be well, and inspire them to think about our state. Our hope is that when the time is right for them to travel, they will choose us as their vacation destination.

South Dakota's main branding has long been Great Faces Great Places. Right now is an awkward time for destination marketing organizations. It is still unsafe to travel, and current public sentiment is more than one out of three people are afraid of what's ahead. We want travelers to know it's ok. We are excited to share The South Dakota Department of Tourism is launching a new marketing campaign, "Great Places Are Waiting," featuring a highly visual 60-sec TV spot. The campaign's objective is to inspire visitors to dream about an epic road trip vacation to the state's iconic attractions like Mount Rushmore National Monument, Badlands National Park, and Custer State Park when we can all safely travel again. The campaign consists of a three-stage approach, including the TV spot, targeted digital and traditional ad placements, interactive content, and learning resources that will be available online from April and into July. The campaign acknowledges the current health concerns and is a nod to the research that the majority of consumers are not willing to travel right now, their top concerns are health and safety. But, travel will be a component to beginning to feel normal and relaxed again.

An example of an immediate reaction to the pandemic was our South Dakota State of Mind campaign #SoDakStateOfMind on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter that showcase very relaxing, zen videos of South Dakota places. They served as a break in the constant scrolling of the Facebook newsfeed in the heart of the crisis. Our hope was to relax the consumer and remind them of the great outdoors, and remind them of South Dakota.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

I personally anticipate that it will have an impact on the travel industry as a whole, absolutely for the foreseeable future, but potentially for the long haul. It will make consumers much more conscious travelers and very aware of their surroundings. Likely, especially the hotel and restaurant industry, will see impacts on how they conduct business.

What is South Dakota Department of Tourism doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

First and foremost we have been taking care of our own South Dakota tourism industry.

We are focusing our efforts on promoting South Dakota as a safe road trip destination for drive-in markets. We are also building awareness for newly reopened tourism attractions and outdoor activities in our National and State Parks where visitors can respect social distancing norms. We want to assure all potential visitors and their families that the tourism industry in South Dakota takes their health and safety very seriously. It is of the utmost importance to us. In fact, we know that without providing hygienic and safe places to visit, there can be no travel and tourism. Tourism industry businesses are implementing hygiene and health protocols from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the South Dakota Department of Health, and numerous other entities. A health and safety resource page for the industry can be found: sdvisit.com/covid-19/health-cleaning-and-sanitizing-resources-south-dakota-tourism-businesses

Colorado Tourism Office

16/31


What has Colorado Tourism Office been doing during the pandemic?



According to Cathy Ritter, Director of the Colorado Tourism Office:



The Colorado Tourism Office team has been focused on developing a dynamic recovery plan to welcome travelers back to the state when the time is right. Unlike the usual recovery plan, its rollout will hinge not on dates on the calendar, but on data, both from public health authorities and from traveler sentiment.



We've also been working to keep traveler's wanderlust alive by inspiring them with virtual Colorado experiences including our Colorado Calm social media campaign, which features a breathtaking video that allows viewers to escape and picture themselves in that Colorado moment, and with the launch of Waiting To Co!," our new marketing and social campaign. From kayaking down the stairs to climbing the walls of the front porch, the campaign's raw images showcase the playful ways people are recreating their favorite Colorado moments and activities at home. Additionally, we've been sharing unique ways for travelers to engage with destinations and businesses virtually including everything from street art tours and live music performances, to culinary experiences, craft libations workshops, and much more.



How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?




In the near term, we think travelers will be more likely to travel via road trip (and that the distance folks will be willing to drive will increase) and to explore less populated destinations that allow for social distancing and reconnecting with nature. In the long term, is our hope that some positives come from this experience including the motivation to slow down and appreciate our surroundings, take better care of Mother Earth and more fully enjoy the company of and connection with our loved ones. We can't think of a better place for travelers to activate this new mindset than in Colorado.

What is Colorado Tourism Office doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?


Like many parts of the country, we will face the challenge of managing a patchwork re-opening, with some communities ready to throw open the doors and others intent on keeping outsiders away. We'll only promote those communities that tell us they are open for business. Additionally, we will be working with organizations like the US Travel Association who just released its Guidance for "Travel in the New Normal" to help educate our travel and tourism partners on best practices. To alleviate resident - and visitor - concerns about travel, we're also creating a new "Care for Coloradans" initiative to help educate travelers on the role they play in keeping our residents and beloved destinations safe. We're also continuing our statewide focus on destination stewardship through our "Care for Colorado" initiative with enhanced programming and educational tools.

Visit Oakland

17/31
What has Visit Oakland been doing during the pandemic?

At the beginning of the outbreak, Visit Oakland wanted to ensure our community and travelers had the right information from official resources, so we first launched a COVID-19 Travel Updates web page with links to all necessary resources including but not limited to the City of Oakland, Alameda County, the State of California, etc.

Once it was determined people wouldn't be traveling, our focus shifted to supporting our local businesses: the restaurants, markets, shops, small businesses, run by POC, women, our LGBTQ+ community that make Oakland such a beautiful place to live and visit.

We launched #OaklandFromHome where people can spend time directly connecting with our business owners, and if they're able to from home, support in some way. We've had some of our amazing businesses share uniquely Oakland content, including:

- DIY toothpaste tutorials from our zero-waste grocery store MudLab

- Cocktail recipes from our new Afro-Latino lounge Sobre Mesa

- Virtual fitness with our queer gym Radical Fitness and dance classes for disabled and non-disabled performers with AXIS Dance Company

- Cardboard butterfly wings with social justice artist Favianna Rodriguez

Our goal is to help our local businesses weather this challenge. On that note, we also created an inspirational campaign titled: "Strong Roots Weather the Toughest Storms", honoring Oakland's diverse roots and heritage as a naturally beautiful city (many people don't know we have Redwoods!).

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

I think sustainability in tourism was already a hot-button topic, and I see that coming to the forefront now as people eventually begin to travel again (at whatever pace will be allowed). For Oakland, sustainability isn't just environmental: it's social, cultural… sustainability here is about creating an environment where communities can thrive. I think people are going to be thinking a lot more about the long-term sustainability of some aspects of travel and tourism.

What is Visit Oakland doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

Of course, the safety of our community and any future travelers is our highest commitment. While California Governor Gavin Newsom lays out plans for the state, Oakland then must adhere to regulations set forth by Alameda County. Currently, we are preparing a number of different scenarios that can occur in the coming weeks and months with travel re-opening, and the messaging that is best suited for each phase.

A lot of our activity will be digital, whether it be social media or interviews such as this, or our fantastic web page. We're currently updating our "100 Things to do in Oakland" web page and making sure that for people who don't want to or can't travel immediately, they can still discover and get to know Oakland.

Visit Rhode Island

18/31
What has Visit Rhode Island been doing during the pandemic?

Since March, the Visit Rhode Island team has been working to support the community and mitigate the virus' impact. The main goals have been ensuring health and safety information is properly disseminated and that local businesses and residents are supported with the following initiatives:

- Supported local media outlet Rhode Island Monthly by sponsoring a new Shop Local tab on their website (in the primary navigation; viewed by 100,000+ users a month) and a dedicated landing page devoted to this curated content. Twice a week, editors will publish a blog with timely content (Mother's Day gift ideas, DIY meal or craft kits, locally made masks) promoting 4-5 businesses.

- Developed two social media campaigns to maintain communication and boost morale amongst residents. The #MaskUpRI campaign was executed in conjunction with the Providence CVB and StyleWeek Northeast, where we started a movement on Instagram and Facebook to normalize the wearing of non-medical grade face masks. Visit Rhode Island also created the '#RhodyResilient' campaign to support COVID-19 relief efforts through the United Way of Rhode Island.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

Tourism is the 6th largest employer in Rhode Island with a very clear high season during the summer, so it's safe to say that the repercussions of putting the industry on hold will be felt deeply and for some time. However, the Ocean State is looking ahead to long term solutions that can keep tourism alive in a safe and exciting way, and there's been anecdotal evidence that shows people are eager to support these initiatives. Rhode Island has received particular media attention on their successful response to the virus, leading the way for creative solutions. For example, Governor Raimondo has promoted private/public partnerships. She has been credited with the launch of Salesforce tools in contact tracing in order to help businesses reopen their workplaces during a global health crisis. Additionally, she partnered with Amazon Web Services to streamline the weekly certification process for those receiving unemployment benefits.

What is your tourism board/CVB doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

We've been working very closely with small businesses and the governor to ensure all parties are heard as reopening progresses. Created www.ReopeningRI.com to provide updates from the governor about the reopening phases, restrictions, health protocols and general news regarding COVID-19 and Rhode Island.

We also created a new "Village Experiences & Shops" category on VisitRhodeIsland.com that repurposes and expands existing content in the Summer Guide, covering ten areas throughout RI that highlights walkable experiences so that we may keep safety a top priority while also allowing businesses to reopen.

Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau

19/31
What has Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau been doing during the pandemic?

We have been working to quickly pivot towards relevant, yet situationally-sensitive content. The nature of the current environment has required an emphasis on the creation of content that conveys the Beverly Hills experience and keeps our city top of mind even though visitors cannot physically be here right now.

In fact, next week we will launch a seven-part video series on our YouTube page titled Beverly Hills Home Hotelier, which pools the collective expertise behind Beverly Hills' legendary hotel collection to speak to several different topics, all selected due to their relevance now that many of us are spending more time in our homes than ever before. For example, you'll see the executive chef at Peninsula Beverly Hills demonstrating how to recreate the hotel's iconic afternoon tea at home and the spa director at Waldorf Astoria's La Prairie Spa discussing simple techniques for at home wellness and skin care.

The entire series represents an incredible collaboration of Beverly Hill's hospitality community coming together to share their little-known, yet highly-applicable expertise, and to remind visitors that we cannot wait to welcome them back to Beverly Hills when the time is right.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic? What is your tourism board/CVB doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

With the understanding that leisure travelers will likely ease back into travel by visiting destinations that they can drive to, Beverly Hills will pivot to a greater focus on bringing more regional and domestic visitors to the city this summer. We plan to emphasize the aspects that make Beverly Hills an attractive place to visit in a post-coronavirus world. For example, we expect that travelers may be more inclined to stay in established hotels, as opposed to less standardized alternative lodging option. This is an area that Beverly Hills is specially poised to excel in, thanks to our unrivaled hotel collection. No guest request or need is out of reach - whether that be personalized services, the highest standards of cleanliness, or an increased desire for privacy.

Additionally, our hotels and businesses are working on protocol to make sure that visitors and guests will feel safe and protected. Our hotels already are well-versed in attending to every detail to ensure the guest has an incredible stay, so there is no doubt that guests will feel comfortable at every touchpoint.

Understanding that many visitors may feel less inclined to visit crowded, indoor spaces, and yet desire to experience the elements of art and culture that Beverly Hills is known for, we will highlight the city's generous and celebrated public parks and artwork. This city is home to several beautiful parks in which outdoor art is a focal point. Visitors can access a collection of more than 70 pieces selected by the city's Fine Arts Commission to adorn public gardens and parks. Standouts include a modern steel sculpture by Alexander Liberman; a trio of abstract tulips by Yayoi Kusams; three sculptures by celebrated street artist Mr. Brainwash (a Banksy protégé); and a 14-foot silver torso by Robert Graham that honors Beverly Hills as a global fashion capital.

Julie Wagner, CEO, Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau said:

"While the duration of the stay-at-home measures are uncertain, one thing is for sure: We can't wait to invite the world back to Beverly Hills. We're cautiously optimistic that all of our government's well-planned efforts will allow us to welcome visitors back to Beverly Hills by this summer. There is no better place to embrace everything we've been missing by staying at home - from incredible restaurants and shops to spacious parks with miles of fragrant gardens and extraordinary public art."

Visit Rapid City

20/31
What has Visit Rapid City been doing during the pandemic?

According to Julie Jensen, President/CEO, Visit Rapid City:

Visit Rapid City is trying to be relevant, yet safe and smart! We have allowed our staff to work from home, we stay in touch daily with Zoom meetings, we have produced some amazing videos showing our Mt. Rushmore mascots handling social distancing. We also have reached out to our stakeholders to see how they are doing. We keep in touch with our regional and statewide DMOs to share best practices. It's not easy to keep sales and marketing people "on a leash" but, I feel our team has been weathering this storm quite well.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

Well, we are all wondering how the future will look. I think we will see people being more respectful of how close we get to each other, many will wear masks, employees of the hosting industry will kindly remind people to be considerate of these actions. I believe people will still need to travel and will come to places that make them feel safe.

What is Visit Rapid City doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

Visit Rapid City has a recovery plan. We are being smart and safe. Our first concern is for our employees, the heartbeat of this industry. We believe our great outdoors is a huge plus for us! There are many places to be safe and distanced in the Black Hills. In Rapid City, our restaurants and pubs are uber clean and working hard to make visitors feel safe and secure. We do not want to become a hot spot for the virus.

British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

21/31
What has British Virgin Islands Tourist Board been doing during the pandemic?

The British Virgin Island Tourist Board has been involved in needed community outreach. Our team on the ground has been assisting the community in any way possible, including delivering groceries during a period when the Territory's Government instituted a 24-hour curfew.

We have utilized our various channels of communications to ensure that current social distancing and safety protocols are properly disseminated and have created signage reminding the public of the need for social distancing.

During the crisis we have leaned on public relations and social-first approach to stay engaged with travelers by launching a Virtual Travel Series. We kicked this off in early April with a "Virtual Happy Hour & Painkiller Cocktail Class" welcoming over 35,000 Facebook Live viewers to learn how to make the iconic drink with a rich history in the BVI. In May, we will host a variety of additional experiences featuring talented locals showcasing cooking demonstrations and cocktail classes plus beach painting and sustainable skincare lessons. It's never been more important to stay connected with travelers who have been coming to the destination for generations and keep them dreaming about the BVI.

The Board is meeting and consulting with our industry partners, sharing information on global forecasts for tourism, anticipated reopening, measures for ensuring the safety of our guests, economic impacts of COVID-19 as well as preferred government policies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

The Board is leading the way, working with tourism industry partners to re-start the internal tourism economy by means of Staycation offerings. This promotion entices our own residents, who have been locked down during this pandemic, the opportunity to experience our tourism services and products, thus stimulating the economy.

Our Business Development teams in the USA and the UK continue to engage with our travel trade partners in their respective markets ensuring the maintenance of valued relationships.

We are also preparing for the development of a fresh new website which we expect to launch by the end of 2020. Lastly, our regional teams have created promotional videos to remind our guests that "we will meet again", while a new destination video inviting guests to find their renewed spirits and sense of adventure in the British Virgin Islands, is being developed.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

As tourism is a top driver in our economy, countless residents will feel the impact of this crisis for a long time. Our destination is taking a fresh look at our sanitation practices, not only in our hotels and marine industry but destination wide. Our challenge will be finding common ground between the level of service and experience travelers expect from the BVI while ensuring their safety concerns are also met.

Our tourism priorities are safety, authenticity, friendliness, and efficiency, so we intend to find the right balance between them within our tourism offerings as we look towards welcoming visitors back after the pandemic. Fortunately, the BVI is a destination where you can easily social-distance, whether on a private yacht charter, renting a villa or staying at one of our many boutique resorts.

What is British Virgin Islands Tourist Board doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

Although we do not currently have a definite date for reopening to tourists, we will first open our borders to BVI nationals and permanent residents looking to return home starting June 2. We're now preparing for this important first step, refining operational standards for businesses and what the requirements will be for returning BVI nationals. With this phased approach, we'll be able to fine-tune our processes and clearly communicate the protocols for entry and experiencing the destination when the Territory reopens for international visitors.

In closing, the British Virgin Islands has been through many challenges such as the hurricanes in 2017 and our tourism partners and the residents have always been resilient in adverse circumstances. We're confident that we'll be able to come out of this even stronger, and the first step is a smart and strategic phased reopening.

Visit Cheyenne

22/31
What has Visit Cheyenne been doing during the pandemic?

According to Domenic Bravo, CEO:

During the first week of the Governor declared a state of emergency, Visit Cheyenne launched two social media contests and created a support local restaurant (open/delivery/curbside) graphic and webpage on the Visit Cheyenne website. We then created a specific COVID-19 microsite that included the restaurant page, virtual events, ways to support local retail shops, support links for the industry, a link where locals that lost employment could find jobs and financial assistance. Visit Cheyenne has hosted virtual concerts, main-street cruises, launched drive-in movie night experiences at Terry Bison Ranch, which will recur monthly, and micro food and beverage pop-ups with local chefs and restaurants, as well as a virtual farmers market. We have also worked on taking a deep dive into visitor data and have overlay that on the national trends that have been presented by our national partners to craft a targeted and strategic marketing plan.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

I think there will be various traveler expectations like social distancing (which Wyoming has been doing before it was trendy), along with the typical protocols we are seeing nationwide like hand washing/sanitizing stations, face masks may or may not be required, etc. We are seeing the trend for increased automobile travel which may change the way normal destination communities promote themselves. I think venues and attractions will have to be innovative to meet these travel expectations and the required safety protocols their counties and states put in place.

Until a vaccine is introduced, we will probably see these type of controls in place. Even as the 'snowball effect' of a crippling economy takes hold, travel will return. People dream of adventure and probably even more so, as you never know when you might lose the chance to visit that one place on your bucket list. Close to home (regional travel) will be important as family budgets are strained for the first few years until everyone gets back to work. Lastly, technology may play an even greater role in a traveler's overall experience as it may allow for social distancing, etc.

What is Visit Cheyenne doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

We are working with County, State and industry contacts to get protocols in place that allow for businesses to open in phases. Hotels have been open (never closed) following CDC and best practice cleaning protocols. Personal care services (salons, massage therapy) reopened on May 1st, and restaurants/bars have been on limited services during the pandemic, and are slated for some opening in limited seating in the next week. We are working with major events like the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days, to determine solutions for a safe and successful event.

South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

23/31
What has your tourism board/CVB been doing during the pandemic?

According to Dolly Chewning, Director of Tourism Sales & Marketing:

In a lot of ways, it's still business as usual, even working from home during this time. We are putting together our longer term marketing plans which are strategized several months in advance. We're determining next steps to ensure tourism recovery is swift once travel does resume. And, at a state-level, we and our CVB's are helping our DMO's, as well as, hotel, restaurant and attraction partners with messaging they need to address travel and their community at this time.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

While we're in the midst of change, we are seeing communities come together to help each other, while also sharing information and experiences virtually. It's been fun to see the creativity on social media channels as a result of being homebound. Once the travel ban is lifted, we predict that travelers will be looking to visit under touristed destinations, enjoy experiences without walls, and spend time with the ones they love. Off-the-beaten-path experiences abound in South Carolina. The most wonderful things about the destination are the abundance of history, natural beauty and great food we have in the state. We are excited to share all of this with visitors once travel resumes, and hope sightseers are just as excited to discover South Carolina's hidden gems.

What is South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

We have been doing things that will help keep us organized and be more efficient - such as website updates, creating new content and calendars, continuing education on what is currently happening in our industry and others that we can learn from and implement in the future. We have developed a marketing strategy that includes closer-in drive markets as phase one, and moves into a national audience once airlines are back up and running with their usual flight paths. Through social channels, we're posting inspirational imagery to encourage visitors to "Dream Now, Discover Later" as they start to plan their travel.

Visit South Walton

24/31
What has Visit South Walton been doing during the pandemic?

According to David Demarest, Director of Communications:

Our team has been focused on creating content that links the rest of the world to South Walton through our Virtual Beach Vibes series. This digital program showcases everything from local musicians, artists and chefs to live views of our beaches and virtual tours of our 16 beach towns. The series releases new content almost every day via our Instagram and Facebookpages and features live concerts, art gallery tours and workshops, culinary demos, yoga classes, bike ride tours, sea turtle education, and more. Our goal with the program is twofold - to keep those who know and love us connected to their favorite place during this turbulent time, and to help inspire travel for a time when it's safe to visit. In addition to the Virtual Beach Vibes series, we launched Support South Walton to showcase the many ways our community is stepping up to support each other, as well as help our loyal visitors find opportunities to help the community they love.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

We expect to see travelers seeking out accommodation options offering more privacy and access to open spaces, such as vacation rentals near beaches or parks. This will allow travelers to maintain control over their own space, and enjoy less structured and less crowded forms of recreation. South Walton is particularly well-suited to meet this need as the bulk of our accommodation options are rental homes, we have 26 miles of beach and more than 40-percent of our land area is in some form of preservation, offering miles of hiking and biking trails. Though short term vacation rental operations have been paused by order of the governor indefinitely, our partners are working tirelessly to ensure that, upon reopening, they can safely welcome visitors back. Additionally, we believe travelers will seek out lesser-known destinations that are not densely populated urban centers. They may also choose to lessen the chance of crowds by visiting in shoulder-season. This can lead to some great discoveries - summer has always been our busiest season, but locals tend to favor fall or late spring, and many of our best events are held during the least crowded winter months.

What is Visit South Walton doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

As Florida begins to reopen, we are taking proactive measures to ensure that those who choose to visit do so safely and are prepared to do their part in the continued prevention and recovery effort. We anticipate a "new normal" for travel, and we want our visitors to feel they're in a partnership - that we're all working together to accomplish good.

Many locals and small businesses depend on visitors for their livelihood, but the benefits of traveling are certainly enriching for the visitor as well. We have to get to a place where we all understand that we truly are in this together, and working with each other compassionately is the only way we can really achieve the goal of creating that mutually beneficial ecosystem. The nuts and bolts of that may be as simple for the traveler as taking precautions to protect the community they're visiting as well as themselves. Even domestic travelers will have to understand that government guidelines continue to affect the way local businesses operate.

We've created this important "What to Know Before Visiting South Walton" page to help inform travelers of enhanced precautions they should be prepared to take when they visit in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. We are also working closely with our tourism industry partners and stakeholders to uphold the guidelines and share all pertinent information with their audiences.

Wisconsin Department of Tourism

25/31
What has Wisconsin Department of Tourism been doing during the pandemic?

According to Sara Meaney, Secretary-Designee for Wisconsin Department of Tourism:

Travel Wisconsin has taken a "Dream Now, Travel Later" strategic approach to inspire travelers for future visits to Wisconsin once public health experts tell us it is safe to travel again. We've implemented a series of programs designed to inspire wanderlust within the state including: the launch of Slow TV, a scenic video series showcasing the miles of pristine and untouched outdoor space in our state with a guided meditation voice over; Virtual Campfires on our Facebook page every week inviting friends to engage in virtual social gathering for fireside conversations; an epic Fish Fry Face-Off, where fans had the chance to nominate and vote for their favorite restaurant's traditional Wisconsin Fish Fry for a chance to be crowned Best in the State; and the social campaign #HowWiHelp to showcase what our amazing residents and businesses are doing to support one another during this time. Additionally, we are giving away one dream Wisconsin vacation each week for ten weeks through our Great Wisconsin Getaway www.TravelWisconsin.com/getaway. Contestants can enter once per day and all entries carry over from week to week.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

While there is no doubt that just like 9/11, COVID-19 will forever change how we travel, I do believe that just like after 9/11, consumer confidence will return. Over the next several months, we expect to see travelers seeking outdoor spaces and pristine nature away from crowds, which makes Wisconsin uniquely positioned given our product. Wisconsin is bordered by Great Lakes on two sides (Michigan and Superior) and the Mississippi river to our west. With over 820 miles of coastline along the Great Lakes, almost 50 percent of the state is covered in trees with thousands of miles dedicated to some of the best hiking and cycling across our state parks and more, Wisconsin is the perfect destination for a road trip or remote weekend-getaway. We anticipate our hospitality industry will provide transparent and ample information on their processes to ensure comfort and safety in visiting their properties.

What is Wisconsin Department of Tourism doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

We are working closely with the Governor's office, public health experts, business experts and tourism partners in the state to implement consistent and expert health and safety measures across our tourism industry, and ensure a transparent and cohesive message for welcoming visitors back to Wisconsin with confidence. When the public health experts lift travel restrictions within the state, we'll focus our efforts on encouraging exploration and travel for Wisconsin residents in-state, expanding to drive markets in the Midwest as other states follow suit. Beyond that, we'll be keeping an eye on how the rest of the country is fairing, and as domestic travel and flight routes grow, we'll focus on making sure flight markets feel welcome and safe to visit our charming towns, scenic byways, rivers, lakes and beaches and delight in our culinary offerings throughout the state.

Greater Palm Springs, CA

26/31
What has Greater Palm Springs been doing during the pandemic?

First and foremost, we've been working with our local government and community members to ensure the health and safety of our residents. We've also collaborated with our local businesses that have remained open to help support their messaging. We're doing everything we can to keep as many people working as we can. For those who aren't, we've created the Hospitality Workforce Relief Fund designed to support families in the hospitality industry facing hardship as a result of COVID-19.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

I think people are going to be looking for access to open spaces to explore of which the Coachella Valley has an abundance. They'll want to explore the outdoors as much as possible. Tourism is also going to be much more about connecting with the community. I think we're going to see an increased demand for what's happening in our arts, culture, non-profit and citizen groups. Visitors are going to want to understand the creativity and innovation in the city and what makes our community so special.

What is Greater Palm Springs doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

To ensure that Greater Palm Springs remains a safe destination for all, we're making a commitment - our Safer Together, Greater Together Pledge. The pledge has been created to ensure the safety and well-being of our visitors, workforce, and all of our neighbors, families, and friends in the cities we serve.

While safety and service have always been our top priorities, never have these priorities been clearer to us or more needed than they are now. That is why we are making several additions to many of our procedures to ensure, destination-wide, safety practices to support the health, wellness and confidence of everyone.

As we move into opening the destination, we know there's going to be an intense focus on safety and trust. Essentially, we're all trust merchants now so we're ensuring that all of the members in the community are able to communicate to their staff and their visitors everything that's being done to achieve the highest level of health and safety. To that end, we're working with our community stakeholders to create a Greater Palm Springs-wide pledge to achieve and maintain cleanliness standards throughout the valley, so our visitors can feel confident that their safety is our number one priority.

~Colleen Pace, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Greater Palm Springs CVB

Israel Ministry of Tourism

27/31
What has Israel Ministry of Tourism been doing during the pandemic?

According to Eyal Carlin, Tourism Commissioner for North America:

Ever since the pandemic began to spread, Israel took immediate action in closing down the country to protect both our visitors and our citizens. The team at the Israel Ministry of Tourism mobilized immediately to work through the best way to engage with Israel fans while they were unable to travel to our country. As a result, we created virtual experiences that allowed people to visit our most famous and beloved sites from the safety of their own homes.

We also launched the #InspiredByIsrael hashtag to keep our followers' wanderlust alive, encouraging them to share some of their favorite photos and memories from past trips while sharing some of ours. We are thrilled to have received an outpouring of support from past visitors to Israel who want to share their memories. We also created a series of free downloadable Zoom backgrounds on our website that allows users to transport themselves across the world without leaving their homes.

As part of our hashtag campaign, we launched a series of virtual events on Instagram and Facebook Live that brings home a bit of Israeli culture and cuisine, including tutorials on how to make hummus, rugelach and more.

In addition, our regional directors have stayed in constant contact with the travel trade through hosting a series of webinars on topics including accessible travel, faith-based travel, a Passover seder and more. They also worked tirelessly to introduce travel agents and partners to Israelis who could offer tech solutions for their businesses and tutorials on how travel agents can create their own webinars for their own clients.

All while doing these consumer and trade-facing activations, we've internally been keeping the line of communication open with our hospitality and airline partners to stay apprised of their plans surrounding the reopening of the country, and what they plan to do to keep travelers safe when they can return. We've also been in contact with other tourism boards across the world to keep each other apprised of our plans and initiatives as we move forward.

We're also in the process of redesigning our website and online assets to allow them to focus more on the specific audience needs as we begin to reopen. There will be separate sections on the website for travel agents, travel trade, and faith-based travel.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

As we start to move towards a "new normal" when it comes to travelers, it is clear that social distancing and sanitation will play a big role in all of their travel decisions, including destination, hotel, and airline choice. Though they will be taking these precautions, we still are confident that people will begin to resume travel with enthusiasm while doing it in a safe way. Israel is working to adapt to a new standard of travel that includes these social distancing and sanitation protocols, which include timed entries, contactless payments at top tourist destinations, and new check-in procedures.

In conversations with our partners, we are staying optimistic as many reservations in the 3rd and 4th quarters are not yet being canceled, which is a good indicator that people still very much want to travel.

There will be a big emphasis on outdoor attractions which allows for safe social distance. As Israel is home to many outdoor attractions, we think the country will adapt well to this new situation.

What is Israel Ministry of Tourism doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

We are still working on our complete international reopening strategy, which will be announced soon, but Israel has already begun to open to domestic travel. We believe this is a great first step to reopening the economy and the tourism sector.

New protocols have been put in place for social distancing across the country, even at outdoor markets, at beaches and on public transportation. Hotels are instituting new health and safety protocols, and our Nature and Parks Authority has established new protocols as well.

As we begin to reopen, we're also taking a look at our marketing and advertising activities and how we can adapt those to what is the "new normal." It has forced us to take a look at our current strategy and has allowed us to be creative and make improvements that will allow us to highlight our preparedness for what's to come in the future of travel.

Visit St. Pete/Clearwater

28/31
What has Visit St. Pete/Clearwater been doing during the pandemic?

In an effort to bring St. Pete/Clearwater together under one unified message during an uncertain time, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater developed the 'Brighter Days Ahead' campaign. The messaging was aimed to keep travelers and the community informed, inspired, and engaged under the theme and hashtag #BrighterDaysAhead. The team aimed to share the commitment to safe travel while remaining optimistic about the future and passionate about all that St. Pete/Clearwater has to offer. The DMO communicated that message through owned channels and creative social media content, like beach scene loop-videos that provide a peaceful soundtrack to a work-from-home day. We kept the digital assets unbranded to develop an umbrella toolkit that everyone in the destination could get behind and push the positive message. Stripping our brand from the campaign and building a platform of creative ideas that our partners could leverage and utilize during this time to communicate to consumers, visitors and beyond.

In addition, the community of St. Pete/Clearwater has been doing its very best to deal with the impact of the global pandemic, and support those who are struggling in any way possible. Small businesses are the backbone of our country's economy, and that is especially true in St. Pete/Clearwater. With this in mind, the destination sent care packages to friends and supporters of St. Pete/Clearwater. Included in this box were some local favorite products chosen and purchased by the Visit St. Pete/Clearwater team as a gift to show support for small businesses.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

St. Pete/Clearwater has always been a place of connection, and we will continue to provide a sense of connection between our community and travelers during this pandemic and into the future. The changes to tourism will appear in the ways we provide that connection, whether it be virtual experiences or crowd control, but every connection provided will reflect new health protocols needed to ensure everyone is safe.

What is Visit St. Pete/Clearwater doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

St. Pete/Clearwater beaches reopened to the public on Monday, May 4 with social distancing rules in effect. As an award-winning beach destination with 35 miles of white-sand beaches, St. Pete/Clearwater wants to ensure locals and guests alike are responsibly enjoying the sunshine. The Visit St. Pete/Clearwater team put together the webpage Tips for Visiting Responsibly in St. Pete/Clearwater. These recommendations include setting up a circle in the sand six feet in radius of personal beach equipment, maintaining a group of ten or less, using hand sanitizer and queuing responsibly. As always, the primary focus is to keep the communities and visitors safe and healthy now, so all can enjoy the infinite brighter days ahead.

Arizona Office of Tourism

29/31
What has Arizona Office of Tourism been doing during the pandemic?
According to Debbie Johnson, Director, Arizona Office of Tourism:

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the Arizona Office of Tourism has continued to serve as a committed supporter of Arizona's tourism industry and the people it employs. We've talked individually to well over 100 tourism leaders from across the state to ensure we understand exactly what they're going through and what type of support they need most.
Since very early on, we've been connecting displaced hospitality workers with new opportunities through our Arizona Hospitality Workforce Connection website. Under the direction of Governor Ducey, we're proud to lead Arizona's Tourism Industry Recovery Plan. In addition, we launched a series of weekly tourism industry webinars to provide the industry with information and directly answer their questions.
How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?
I believe the main difference visitors will see immediately is the dedication of airports, airlines, resorts, hotels, attractions and destinations to enhanced sanitation and distancing policies and procedures that are visible to travelers. Our industry has always been focused on making guests feel welcome, so it's really a natural extension for the industry to include enhanced cleanliness as part of an updated guest experience.

What is Arizona Office of Tourism doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?
We continue constant communications with our industry and our reopening planning work in collaboration with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's Office. Soon, we will be launching "Rediscover Arizona," our multi-channel tourism industry recovery marketing campaign that tells the story of the many ways Arizona's beauty & wonder will help people reconnect. The campaign will start off by focusing locally, encouraging Arizona residents to safely explore things to see, do and experience in their own backyard. It will expand to drive markets in nearby states as people start to travel more. We know many people, myself included, are looking forward to traveling, so we're showing them why that first trip should be in Arizona.

Visit Estes Park

30/31
What has Visit Estes Park been doing during the pandemic?

According to Rachel Ward Oppermann, Public Relations Coordinator for Visit Estes Park:

Like many others, our team shifted to working from home, but we are still operating as normal as possible during this time. We have been finalizing a recovery plan and making appropriate shifts to our marketing and PR strategies to remain prepared for the rest of the year. We also have been working on new BOCO Gear face masks for business owners and their employees to prepare for when visitors return. Also in advance of visitors returning to Estes Park, we have retrofitted VisitEstesPark.com to quickly and easily allow guests to access modified business operations such as safety standards, restaurant updates, etc.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

While we hope that travel will get back to normal as soon as it is safe to do so, it is impossible to predict what travel will look like six or even three months from now. However, most travelers agree that they'll start with trips that are closer to home that offer natural distancing options. When the time is right, Estes Park's parks and federal lands will reopen for limitless outdoor adventures. Through social networks and our call center, we are seeing many visitors reschedule their springs trips rather than cancel, which gives us hope for the future.

What is Visit Estes Park doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

We have been finalizing recovery plans to ensure we are ready to welcome visitors back to Estes Park once travel is able to resume. We are working with the Town of Estes Park's Accelerated Recovery Task Force and are in touch with all of our partners including lodging properties, restaurants, tour operators, etc. to ensure we are all working on a cohesive plan for when visitors return to make sure they feel as safe as possible during their time in Estes Park.

Hamilton County Tourism (Indiana)

31/31
What has Hamilton County Tourism been doing during the pandemic?

According to Brenda Myers, President/CEO of Hamilton County Tourism:

Like many destination managers, we immediately pivoted to support local efforts and worked with the county's emergency management services, health department and social service agencies to provide messaging and data analysis. Our marketing team took an existing #LOVEHC program and crafted a local support brand umbrella, which included promoting take-out at restaurants, sharing community stories and virtual experiences. We manage workforce strategy for the county, and we also immediately opened a very successful employment information portal. As relief efforts began to emerge, we created an industry information page and began communicating links to our partners.

While we maintained a more local presence to support community, internally we began to analyze our financial situation given the pandemic began just as biggest travel season was under way. Even with an operating reserve, the likely prolonged nature of the pandemic meant difficult decisions about staff, contracts and programs of work had to be addressed. We created a 90-day emergency plan to get us through June knowing the situation would likely change weekly during that time.

How do you think tourism will change after this pandemic?

We see four or more stages of recovery and will anxiously await each of those stages. The first is all local and will be tentative. By mid-summer we will enter the second phase where there will be some travel and hopefully youth sports travel. Thankfully we have a number of quality outdoor products to promote. Stage three comes in the Fall. Should the pandemic not see a resurgence, we will begin to see more weekend trips but likely still within a fairly short (4 hours or less) drive market. Stage four does not come until 2021. We will see what COVID19 does late fall and into winter, and if a new normal is established or a successful vaccine or treatment developed, we will inch our way to normal but that likely won't happen until 2022 or later. This will likely be a long, long recovery for the industry with attractions, restaurants and hotels making ongoing adjustments to reassure anxious travelers.

What is Hamilton County Tourism doing to prepare to re-open the destination to tourists?

During early recovery, we will message our resident customers, encourage them to safely support local hospitality and specialty businesses as they open and as is appropriate. Next, we will look to for day trip travelers, and finally by later summer to overnight markets within a very short drive - just long enough for an overnight but not too far as to feel unfamiliar.

We also think visiting friends and relatives will be among the first to travel. By Fall, if the pandemic hasn't returned, we think there will be tentative drive-time travel with an emphasis on outdoors, comfort and familiarity. The Midwest tends to fare well in economic downturns, but this is completely different. We will need to adjust as we go along.

Some of our key attractions are not conducive to social distancing. They are working hard to be creative in delivery of product, and we continue to support in any way we can.

We are working with our local chambers to host locally focused webinars that stress procedures but as important communicate that the message is as key as the actual work to protect employees and guests.

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