SONORA, Calif., August 3, 2022- This past June for the first time since the US border re-opened due to the global pandemic, Visit Tuolumne County (VTC) welcomed three travel and trade representatives from the UK to tour Tuolumne County. Each representative works for three of the top travel selling companies in the UK, including Virgin Atlantic Holidays, Flight Centre and Travel PA.
Pre-pandemic these types of tours known in the travel industry as, “Familiarization Tours (FAM tours)” were quite common, but as the pandemic shut down the borders across the world, FAM tours were paused. As borders re-open and the US begins to welcome back international travelers it is important to invite travel tour operators also known as travel sales representatives to visit in-market as it helps them immensely to sell Tuolumne County as a top travel destination. Chloe Ashton, the Assistant Manager and Travel Advisor for Flight Centre expressed, “Visiting Tuolumne County will help enormously in my sales role, there is nothing like visiting a place to help you sell it. It will suit a wide range of clients; someone who is making their first trip to California and has a decent amount of time to explore, people who have been before, clients interested in history, absolutely perfect for those who love the outdoors, and I was really impressed by what a great family destination Tuolumne is.” She later adds, “It really was a really special trip, and I will never hesitate to recommend Tuolumne to my customers.”
This was the first visit to California for all three UK travel sales representatives and the feedback on their Tuolumne County adventure was phenomenal. When asked about how Tuolumne County compares to other USA destinations, Letitia Pybus, a Travel Advisor for Virgin Atlantic Holidays, shares, “I thought Tuolumne offered a really personal, neighborhood-feel experience. Everyone we met was so friendly and helpful and was genuinely really passionate about Tuolumne County and all it has to offer. I think this is a really welcoming experience for tourists compared to alternative destinations within the USA. I also think Tuolumne is a far more immersive experience than that of other USA destinations such as LA, Vegas, San Francisco which are much more “tourist” focused and don’t provide that real authentic all-American experience.” Another agent with Travel PA, Dawn Nuttall, comments, “I’ve been in the industry 26 years and visited lots of Countries on FAM trips, but this is in my top three.”
As VTC continues its international marking efforts they will continue to invite both travel sales and media representatives to immerse themselves in Tuolumne County. Lisa Mayo President & CEO of VTC shares, “International visitors are important to growing the tourism economy in Tuolumne County, as they stay longer and spend more in our county. It is important to give international travel sales representatives a first-hand Tuolumne County experience, so they can best sell our destination to their clients.” VTC works with three international Travel Trade and Public Relations agencies, Black Diamond in the UK, Global Marketing and Sales in Mexico, and Development Counsellors International in Canada. California remains the top-selling destination in these international markets and having representation helps to keep Tuolumne County top of mind when it comes to selling California.
ABOUT VISIT TUOLUMNE COUNTY
Visit Tuolumne (“to-all-o-me”) County (VTC) is the official destination marketing organization for Tuolumne County in Northern California with a mission to increase visitation, travel spending and overnight stays. Tuolumne County is just a 2 1/2-hour drive east of the San Francisco Bay Area. The destination is known for its pristine, scenic expanse reaching into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849. The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from the Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The State Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the Bay Area. The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing and other outdoor activities. Seven restored historic hotels, four golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, four wineries, a hard cider distillery, train rides, casinos, seven museums, two state historic parks, two live theaters, many bed-and-breakfast inns and a variety of Airbnb accommodations are among the many other attributes that make the county a year-round vacation destination. For more information, go to VistTCToday.com.
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Media Contact:
Katie Kirkland, Sales & Marketing Director, Visit Tuolumne County
katie@gotuolumne.com
(209)743-9871
Lisa Mayo, President & CEO, Visit Tuolumne County
lisa@gotuolumne.com
(209)533-4420
