Great idea !!! Maybe they'll all come over to SoWal... Andy A. and others would love to have you on our "public" beaches. Come one, come all. (SCAR)
PANAMA CITY BEACH-- Wild party images of spring break put Panama City Beach
in a negative national spotlight this year.
And that's why now the Tourist Development Council has decided to not budget any money toward spring break advertising.
Some Bay County Commissioners say this is a great move by the TDC.
Images of spring break caused local officials to feel the pressure to change the beach's image.
"We need to protect
our brand," Bay County Commissioner Mike Thomas said.
Panama City
Beach officials say they get dozens of complaints from locals questioning if the Tourist Development Council is responsible for bringing in the party crowd.
At Tuesday's Bay County Commissioner meeting, local leaders
set the record straight.
"In the coming spring break, the city, the county sheriffs have asked the TDC to focus its efforts on marketing
Panama City Beach in a way that encourages kids to spring break responsibly," Bay Co. TDC Executive Director Dan Rowe said.
Rowe presented a marketing plan highlighting the beach over the last seven years.
The biggest change next year is no bed tax money is budgeted to market spring break.
"That is the decision of the board. The recommendation, the staff will bring to TDC members is that if we spend dollars in spring break, that it is to execute that message of come to Panama City Beach, and spring break responsibly," Rowe said.
"Different businesses
and different destinations in Panama City Beach advertise for different sorts of businesses, and that's what creates the misconception," Thomas said.
Rowe says spending on spring break promotions has gone from $4,000 in 2005 to $1,000 last year.
In 2005, it was 12.6 percent of its entire budget, and last year it was 0.7 percent of the budget.
But last year, the TDC did spend money promoting spring break on Google Ad
words.
And officials say this year, the money is going towards a different crowd.
"We got great visitors that come here to have fun, and have that quintessential beach destination, beach experience and that's not going to change," Rowe said. "I mean, that is the focus of the TDC. To continue to invite people to come to a fabulous destination and have a good time."
The TDC approved a $14 million spending plan for the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The marketing budget
for next year is about $6 million.
PANAMA CITY BEACH-- Wild party images of spring break put Panama City Beach
in a negative national spotlight this year.And that's why now the Tourist Development Council has decided to not budget any money toward spring break advertising.
Some Bay County Commissioners say this is a great move by the TDC.
Images of spring break caused local officials to feel the pressure to change the beach's image.
"We need to protect
our brand," Bay County Commissioner Mike Thomas said.Panama City
Beach officials say they get dozens of complaints from locals questioning if the Tourist Development Council is responsible for bringing in the party crowd.At Tuesday's Bay County Commissioner meeting, local leaders
set the record straight."In the coming spring break, the city, the county sheriffs have asked the TDC to focus its efforts on marketing
Panama City Beach in a way that encourages kids to spring break responsibly," Bay Co. TDC Executive Director Dan Rowe said.Rowe presented a marketing plan highlighting the beach over the last seven years.
The biggest change next year is no bed tax money is budgeted to market spring break.
"That is the decision of the board. The recommendation, the staff will bring to TDC members is that if we spend dollars in spring break, that it is to execute that message of come to Panama City Beach, and spring break responsibly," Rowe said.
"Different businesses
and different destinations in Panama City Beach advertise for different sorts of businesses, and that's what creates the misconception," Thomas said.Rowe says spending on spring break promotions has gone from $4,000 in 2005 to $1,000 last year.
In 2005, it was 12.6 percent of its entire budget, and last year it was 0.7 percent of the budget.
But last year, the TDC did spend money promoting spring break on Google Ad
words.And officials say this year, the money is going towards a different crowd.
"We got great visitors that come here to have fun, and have that quintessential beach destination, beach experience and that's not going to change," Rowe said. "I mean, that is the focus of the TDC. To continue to invite people to come to a fabulous destination and have a good time."
The TDC approved a $14 million spending plan for the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The marketing budget
for next year is about $6 million.
