Redmond, Washington pays travelers to visit, boost tourism
Redmond launches promotion attempting to bring in more business
US cities to pay visitors to boost tourism
Experience Redmond Tourism Director Peter Klauser on giving $100 vouchers to visitors in Washington state.
The city of Redmond, in Washington state, will pay travelers to visit in hopes of boosting the COVID-battered tourism industry,
"The solution was to actually give [visitors] a voucher that could be spent right here in our city, benefiting our local merchants, our restaurants, our retailers, and so on," Experience Redmond Tourism Director Peter Klauser told FOX News’ "America’s Newsroom."
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Redmond, Washington is located just east of Seattle and is offering a limited number of travelers a $100 voucher to spend at local businesses, but only after they booked two nights at participating hotels.
"Redmond, home and birthplace of Microsoft, you know, is a great city full of all kinds of activities and attractions… we’re known for our nature, our trails, our parks," Klauser added.
The travel promotion comes as coronavirus lockdowns lift and many states begin to ease up on travel restrictions.
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The tourism director went on to say the gift certificate program is successfully being explored by several other cities and mentioned businesses east of Seattle are looking to "band together" to create a "phase two" of the incentive.
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The U.S. Travel Association reported it fell 42% from 2019 to 2020 and hotel occupancy fell by 33%.
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"It’s been really hard, you know," Klauser told co-host, Dana Perino. "Our restaurants and our retailers, in particular, have had a really hard time, but they’re resilient and they’re staying strong."