Oct. 10, 2003 – This fall, the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association is focusing on attracting visitors who can get to the island without a major investment of travel time or money — the people of Puerto Rico.
"Consumers in Puerto Rico — and there are well over 2.5 million of them — love to travel, and we're only minutes away," Fred Laue, association president, said in a release. Marketing St. Croix to the other nearby U.S. possession is "one of the keys to boosting tourism on St. Croix," he said.
Association and local hotel representatives have been conducting weekly calls on travel agents in Puerto Rico since mid-September and "have already complete two successful rounds of sales calls with high-profile agents in the San Juan area," Laue said.
According to Omer ErSelcuk, an association board member and chief marketing officer of Seaborne Airlines, "We plan to continue these sales calls until mid November" to familiarize Puerto Rico's travel agents with the association's offerings as well as St. Croix's visitor attractions.
"There's a reason we've labeled St. Croix as unique," ErSelcuk said. "It's a one-of-a-kind beautiful, historically rich and unspoiled destination" as well as "one of the best values, if not the best, in the Caribbean. And we want to get the word out to our friends in Puerto Rico."
The fall promotion is offering St. Croix visitors reduced rates at association member hotels, air travel on Seaborne Airlines, and a booklet of coupons with savings at more than 75 shops, restaurants, activities and other businesses.
The campaign "is the first of several steps" that the association will undertake in an effort "to tap into the Puerto Rico market while keeping an eye on the market in the continental U.S.," ErSelcuk said. Continuing outreach will be via co-op advertising, marketing, promotions and trade shows.
For additional information, call ErSelcuk at 773-5991. ext. 23.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
