Tourism businesses in an increasing number of cities are collaborating more often than competing as they try to recover from a slump, offering discount passes and cards good for a variety of attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops.
The electronic cards or ticket booklets allow tourists admission at reduced prices and without standing in lines at places such as the National Aquarium in Baltimore or the New England Sports Museum in Boston. They give businesses an extra way to advertise and allow them to track where consumers go, when they get there and other marketing information.
"I think more attractions, hotels and restaurants in Cincinnati and other cities have come to realize in the last few years that separately they may be strong, but collectively they can be great," said Scott Usitalo, interim executive director for the Cincinnati USA Regional Tourism Network serving Cincinnati and northern Kentucky.
The travel industry suffered record losses since the peak year of 2000, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. Total travel expenditures in the United States fell from an all-time high of almost $581 billion in 2000 to around $540 billion in 2002.
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Source - USATODAY
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