New York State is increasing its trade activity for 2015 with a bigger programme of fam trips and agent training to encourage visitors to go beyond the city and explore the rest of the state.
A delegation of visitors from the state including Hudson Valley Tourism, Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, Niagara Tourism & Convention Corporation, and Wine, Water & Wonders of Upstate New York, is attending World Travel Market in a bid to promote twin or multi-centre stays using New York City as a gateway to the rest of the region.
Responsible Travel has added product in the region in the past year, while US specialists Funway and Vacations to America have expanded their programmes, but the state is hoping to grow its 2013 UK visitor numbers of 1.1 million with enhanced trade support next year.
Gavin Landry, executive director of New York State Division of Tourism, said: “Our goal is to have people experience all of New York, to take in the various events or follow their interests, whether it’s adventure travel, agro-tourism, historical or cultural sights.
“When you leave the city, you can go by rail to Niagara Falls or you can drive through the Finger Lakes, which has just been named the top wine destination in the US. You get great food and craft breweries in the Hudson Valley, then there’s adventure in the Catskill Mountains or Adirondack Park, which is so big it can fit Yosemite, Yellowstone and more besides.
“When you look at New York State, it’s such a vast and diverse set of assets, and our greatest challenge is that we have so much to offer. You can concentrate all of the best of America within one state and that’s New York State.”
Under the umbrella trademark ‘I love NY’ brand, the state will be promoting its soft adventure, wildlife activities such as whale-watching, deep sea fishing and bird-watching, and boating holidays along its 365-mile canal network.
The state held its first UK sales mission in 2013 and plans to expand this beyond London for next year, as well as conducting in-agency training and increasing the number of fam trip places for 2015.