By KATELYN MOCKRY
Contributing Writer
August 08, 2008 09:12 am
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PLATTSBURGH -- Soaring gas prices haven't discouraged our neighbors to the north from visiting.
Data collected by the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce in its 2009 Tourism Marketing Plan Review indicates an increase of more than 2,000 cars entering the United States from Canada last year.
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Michele Powers, the chamber's vice president of marketing, presented the findings Wednesday evening at the Clinton County Legislature's Finance Committee meeting.
"There are more people coming here, which is phenomenal for the businesses in this area," she said.
The border at Lacolle, Quebec, is the only major crossing in the country that's seen an increase of people coming into the United States, Powers noted.
CHAMBER WEB SITE
Other numbers are on the rise, too, including the hits on the chamber's recently updated tourism Web site, which is up 30 percent over last year. Page views also increased by 20 percent.
"The site is now a major resource for those looking to find out about the area," Powers said.
More than half of the Web site's traffic came from Canada.
Another marketing technique that attracted visitors from across the border was reinforcing the idea of the region's close proximity to Montreal, a term Powers coined as "staycation," which she said was "a key driver for Canadians."
REACHING OUT
Although Canadian travelers account for a large portion of the region's tourism, the chamber has also focused some of its promotional efforts at three other key markets: groups and conventions, recreational anglers and the motorcoach industry.
"We need to do a better job to reach these groups," Powers said.
She suggested that a marketing professional be hired to be a specialist in attracting all the markets to the region.
Funding for such a position, however, is limited.
The chamber, which serves Clinton, Essex, Franklin and northern Warren counties and southern Quebec, receives most of its marketing money from the I Love New York campaign and from the Clinton County Legislature, which approved the chamber's annual state-aid application of $140,000 at the meeting.
BED TAX
One way the county plans to increase tourism funding is through enacting an occupancy tax, also known as a bed tax.
In June, the State Assembly approved Clinton County's plan for a 3-percent occupancy tax to be paid by people staying at area motels and hotels.
The Clinton County Legislature is expected to vote on the tax at next week's regular session.
It is estimated that the bed tax will increase revenue by about $300,000. The money would be put into a Dedicated Tourism Fund, to be used by the chamber to attract visitors to the area.
Powers doesn't believe it will deter people from lodging here.
"There are only a handful of counties in the state who don't have it (an occupancy tax)... I think most people see it as a thing of value."
Powers said she sees the area as a prime market -- affordable and convenient -- and is confident the chamber's marketing efforts will continue to boost tourism.
"We really want to make this a year-round destination."
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