“Be a Tourist” Program Offers a Chance to Connect with Lincoln’s Great Attractions
The Memorial Day holiday marks the traditional start to the summer travel season and as we roll past the 4th of July and head toward the start of school, many families may be in search of something to do a little closer to home. I’ve got good news for you – look no further than our “Be a Tourist” program.
The official start to the travel season actually began in early spring as the first week in May is celebrated as National Travel and Tourism Week. This tradition began in 1984 to recognize the impact of tourism on the economy of the United States. According to the U.S. Travel Association, travel is America’s number one services export generating a total of $2.1 trillion for the U.S. economy.
For the 13th year now, the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau is partnering with 25 Lincoln area attractions and events in its annual “Be a Tourist” Campaign. The program officially launched the last week in May and will continue through the end of August.
The program is simple. Participants can pick up a passport at participating locations, the Lincoln Visitors Center (7th and P Streets), and the passport can also be downloaded from the CVB website. Each location has a designated spot on the passport which will be stamped when a person visits the location. Participants are asked to visit at least 11 of the locations and turn in completed passports for a chance of winning one of the many great prizes.
Vacationing in your own community has never been easier!
The passport program and Lincoln’s many great attractions, when partnered with a stop at one of our local dining establishments and hotel overnight stay, make for the perfect getaway as families take a break from their very hectic schedules. The “Be a Tourist” program has been such a success, it’s been honored in the past by the Nebraska Division of Travel & Tourism as one of the state’s best tourism campaigns.
You will also want to check out a few new features this year. For the first time ever, we will hold a second-chance drawing. While getting the passport stamped, participants can ask for a second-chance drawing ticket where they will simply write their name and phone number on the back and place it in the designated container. Participants will receive one ticket per person, per passport stamp. The more places visited, the more chances to win a wonderful surprise prize package. One winner will be chosen at random and will be notified via phone.
Visit www.lincoln.org for a complete list of prizes or call (402) 434-5335 for more information on the program. Try it out and get reacquainted with Lincoln. If you are anything like me, you haven’t been to the top of the State Capitol since your days in elementary school. I know you will enjoy the experience.
The Chamber’s mission is to improve the lives of Lincoln residents by providing increased economic opportunity and can only be accomplished together. For more information on the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, (www.lcoc.com) please contact Jaime Henning at jaimehenning@lcoc.com.