LANSING ? The state is spending about $50,000 over the next week to wine and dine 28 travel writers who will be touring some of the hot spots in Grand Rapids and Detroit. State officials hope the press tour will translate into positive press coverage that could increase the $17.5 billion spent by tourists last year.
George Zimmermann, senior vice president of Travel Michigan, said the state will pick up airfare, food, lodging and other travel costs for the press tour, which runs through Dec. 4. He said the tab should be around $50,000.
?One way to get coverage is to host travel writers,?? Zimmermann said. ?You?ll get a lot more coverage if they have experienced the state rather than just reading about Michigan in a press release or visitor guide.?
Journalists include staff writers and editors from the following: Emerald Coast, Frommer?s, Group Tour Magazine, Recreation News and Seattle Homes & Lifestyles. In addition, 19 freelance writers joined the tour. Among the major publications in which you may see their Michigan stories: AAA Home & Away, American Style Magazine, Canoe & Kayak, Chicago Tribune, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic Traveler, Pathfinders Magazine, Travel & Leisure and Woman?s Day.
The West Michigan itinerary includes Fred Meiers Gardens, Amway Grand Hotel, Chop House, Lafontsee Gallery, the BOB, and the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo.
?One guy will be fly fishing on Muskegon River,? Zimmermann said.
On the east side of the state, the tour will include the Detroit Institute of the Arts, Charles H. Wright Museum, Henry Ford Museum, Cranbrook, Campus Mauritius and Opus One. Some of the travel writers will attend a Detroit Red Wings hockey game.
Tourism one of the top three industries in the state. Visitors spent $17.5 billion in 2004, generating state tax collections of almost $1 billion. Some 193,000 people are employed in Michigan in the tourism industry.
