International tour operators to visit Central Oregon
Travel Oregon is hosting 22 influential, international tour operators from eight countries on its inaugural Oregon Road Rally, April 3-9.
Representatives from the key target markets of China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom and Canada will discover and explore Oregon on a 7-day trek that covers each region of the state.
Central Oregon Visitors Association spokesman Ted Taylor said the group will attend a dinner event April 6 at the High Desert Museum and visit Smith Rock the following morning.
“We are thrilled to be hosting these key representatives from our primary international markets,” says Teresa O’Neill, Vice President of Global Sales at Travel Oregon. “In 2014 alone, Oregon saw 1.6 million visitors from the participating countries, which generated $400 million in economic impact for the state.”
International tourism plays a huge role in Oregon’s $10.3 billion travel and tourism industry that directly employs more than 101,000 Oregonians; and the revenue for international visitation to Oregon is on the rise, with 2014 seeing 9 percent more international visitors over the previous year.
The participating tour operators are seeking new or additional bookable Oregon itineraries and trip ideas for potential visitors to purchase.
Travel Oregon currently works with dozens of tour operators and receptive tour operators around the globe including road rally participants, Utour (China), Maison des Etats-Unis (France), America Unlimited (Germany), American Vacations (NL ), Flight Centre (NZ and Canada) and Qantas Holidays (AU) to inspire international travel to Oregon, leading to enhanced economic impact throughout the state.
“Our team worked closely with the seven Regional Destination Marketing Organizations around the state to create a truly epic Oregon road trip for our special guests,” said O’Neill.
The Oregon Road Rally will be making key stops along the route including savoring the food carts in Portland, riding dune buggies on the Oregon Coast, experiencing the beauty of Crater Lake National Park, hiking at Smith Rock and Columbia River Gorge waterfalls, exploring Oregon Wine Country, drinking hot chocolate at Timberline Lodge and letting ‘er buck in Pendleton.
The tour operators will be encouraged to share their Oregon experience on social media by using the hashtag #OregonRoadRally. Alamo provided the rental car support and many of the flights were sponsored by Delta Air Lines. Non-stop flights from Amsterdam and Tokyo make it easy for participants to get to Oregon from their various locations abroad.
About Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, dba Travel Oregon, works to enhance visitors’ experiences by providing information, resources and trip planning tools that inspire travel and consistently convey the exceptional quality of Oregon. The commission aims to improve Oregonians’ quality of life by strengthening economic impacts of the state’s $10.3 billion tourism industry that employs more than 101,000 Oregonians. Visit TravelOregon.com to learn more.
