Department Of Interior


DOI: Mark Pfeifle, 202-208-6416
For Immediate Release: Feb. 25, 2004
TIA: Cathy Keefe, 202-408-2183
NPF: Jennifer Hanna, 202-238-4187

Travel Industry Joins With the National Park Service and National Park Foundation For "See America's National Parks" Promotional Campaign

 

WASHINGTON - Efforts to increase visitation to America's national parks and to increase the sale of park passes got underway today through an agreement with the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), the U.S. Department of Interior's National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. They are joining forces to launch a new partnership and promotional campaign called "See America's National Parks." The campaign was announced today by Interior Secretary Gale Norton and William S. Norman, president and CEO of TIA.

The See America's National Parks campaign scheduled to begin this spring will focus on raising awareness of the diversity of the National Park System, encouraging visitation to lesser-known parks and helping to increase the sale of park passes.

"Our National Park System is the envy of the world," Norton said. "These breathtaking sites pay tribute to America's past and the principles upon which our great nation was founded. This unique partnership with the travel industry will help bring about additional opportunities to educate and inform the public about the many magnificent opportunities America's national parks and special places have to offer our visitors."
Secretary Norton noted that President Bush has visited more of our national parks than any previous president. Also, the president's commitment to protecting and preserving America's national parks is demonstrated in the administration's proposed 2005 budget, which calls for investing more than $1 billion in maintenance, rehabilitation and road repair to keep our parks in top shape.

Major components of the campaign include a See America's National Parks microsite at www.SeeAmerica.org, a national sweepstakes, branded travel packages, a nationally distributed promotional poster, a video e-mail provided by the Travel Channel, and domestic and international co-op advertising inserts.

"This new partnership is yet another example of how the public sector and private industry can work together to leverage our resources and to use the See America brand to promote the entire USA. Further, we know that both domestic and international travelers have a high interest in our national parks," remarked William S. Norman.

Visitors to the non-profit www.SeeAmerica.org web site will find information on each of the 388 National Parks by clicking on the See America's National Parks icon. Travelers will be able to search by park name, activity, state, or even zip code to find their ideal match as well as find maps, suggested travel itineraries, packages and special deals. Links to relevant sites, including www.nps.gov and www.npf.org, will make it easy for travelers to truly learn and appreciate the depth and diversity of the National Parks system.
Most importantly, the site will make it easy for travelers to visit parks throughout the nation and to buy a park pass. Funds from the sale of park passes are used to improve park facilities and enrich the visitor experience.


TIA is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $529 billion travel industry. TIA's mission is to represent the whole of the U.S. travel industry to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States.

The National Park Service preserves the natural and cultural resources and values of nearly 400 units of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. These national treasures cover more than 84 million acres in every state (except Delaware), the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

The National Park Foundation, chartered by Congress in 1967, is the official nonprofit partner of America's National Parks. The National Park Foundation strengthens the enduring connection between the American people and their National Parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness. Over the past seven years, the Foundation has contributed more than $135 million in total grants and program support to National Parks across the country

The National Park Foundation and the National Park Service launched the Proud Partners of America's National Parks initiative in 2000. Five major American companies-Discovery Communications, Inc., American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, Kodak, and TIME magazine-have each committed to multi-year support of the National Park Foundation to help fund visitor enhancement projects, promote the National Parks Pass, and invite more Americans to experience and support their Parks. For more information, visit www.nationalparks.org/proudpartner.



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