Ithaca, New York Gives Up On Winter And Invites You To A Warmer Area Instead

The Ithaca-Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau is taking a different approach to tourism for the winter months - and inviting you to head to an entirely different state!

Normally when an area is promoting tourism, they'll explain all the great things to see and do in that area - what restaurants to eat at, what kind of activities and night-life they offer. The Ithaca-Tompkins County Convention and Visitors Bureau put up a different kind of message on its website, though.

According to USA Today,

"Due to this ridiculously stupid winter, Ithaca invites you to visit The Keys this week," the welcoming message says. "Please come back when things thaw out. Really, it's for the birds here now. ... P.S. Send us a postcard."

The message pops up, and links to the tourism site for Key West. You are able to exit out of the message and get to the actual visitithaca.com homepage. So you can still check out the activities and things to do, for those who do want to visit in the snowy weather, or want to plan a trip for later.

It's definitely a bizarre approach to tourism. Visitor bureaus don't normally encourage people to visit a different area - their goal is to get you to come to their town/city or area. Bureau director Bruce Stoff pitched his idea about this slogan to the director of media relations for the Florida Keys tourism council - Andy Newman. USA Today reports,

Newman said when Stoff approached him about the idea he wasn't sure he was serious.

"That's just so unorthodox.," according to Newman. "But thank you very much, Ithaca, for sharing the warmth of the Florida Keys. We appreciate it very much."

The witty message has already gotten so much attention online and through media. The tourism website usually gets about 2,900 hits during it's biggest rush in August. This time of year it is a lot slower with about 1,500 hits per day. That's a lot different this time around, though. With the new message online their site has already had 10,580 hits. On top of that, the message has only been up since Sunday.

Usually mid-winter is the slowest time for tourism for the Ithaca area, even though they do offer winter activities and events. Who knows? This may change everything. Maybe some people in Florida or California will want to take a break from the heat and try some winter attractions... maybe?

[USA Today]