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