Mini-Web Sites, E-News Offer Maximum
Information
Eighty-three million adults shopped for travel on the Internet during a six-month period in 2006. Of this group, 61 million planned a leisure trip online. The Travel Industry Association of America forecasts that Internet usage will be responsible for more r than $100 billion in travel-related revenue by 2010.
The West Virginia Division of Tourism is determined to make sure the state’s tourism industry gets its share of that online business with a series of award-winning mini-sites and a monthly e-newsletter.
The mini-sites provide online
browsers content-specific information for travel ideas that they ask for most
often. The state has launched nine sites and is planning to introduce others in
the coming year. The content on each
site is brief, yet descriptive, and offers browsers plenty of hyperlinks to
The mini-sites available now are:
www.adventuresinwv.com – Explore the Wild Side of West Virginia.
wvtraditions.com – Civil War history, Appalachian arts/craft/music, scenic railroads and coal heritage.
wvriversports.com – Whitewater rafting, kayaking, boating, other water sports.
wvescapes.com – Featuring several of
wvwintersports.com – Downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, other winter fun.
wvweekends.com – Romantic getaways, cozy cabins, spas, B&Bs.
wvgolfing.com – Golf and golf resorts, with a full listing of all state courses.
wvbyways.com – Featuring all of the state’s designated scenic highways and byways.
wvnights.com – You'll love our nightlife!
The e-newsletter reaches out to the many Internet-savvy travelers who are already visiting the Tourism Web sites or who have registered to receive the newsletter through the state’s travel Web site or special offers.
Each month, the newsletter highlights a specific travel subject such as small town getaways, skiing and winter fun, along with a calendar of events and links to the towns and attractions listed in the feature articles. In addition, the e-newsletter gives the tourism industry an opportunity to get involved in the program by inviting cooperative partners whose businesses are featured in the e-newsletters.