For officials in a small town, it was a wake-up call to develop a plan to help local businesses.
The result was a program called “Visit the Santa Maria Valley,” which will pay tourists $ 100 to travel there and stay at least two nights at one of the many hotels in the area. Payment comes in the form of a voucher that can be used at any of the wineries, breweries or restaurants in the city. The promotion starts on February 4 and ends on March 31.
The Santa Maria Valley, which is about 65 miles north of Santa Barbara, offers many of the same facilities as California’s most popular destinations, but at a lower price, officials said.
“The Santa Maria Valley has so much to offer,” Jennifer Harrison, director of the Santa Maria Valley Visitors’ Bureau, told CNN. “We have beautiful beaches, hotels and wineries, which are such a good option for budget travelers in times of economic recovery.”
Indeed, the Central Coast region boasts 13 beaches and 34 tasting rooms, all within a 30-minute drive, according to the Santa Maria Valley website, which lists dozens of activities, including hiking, golf, exploration. art and bird watching.
Safety first
Harrison said his team is working diligently to follow CDC safety protocols, adding that the Santa Maria Valley is less crowded than other California destinations and can more easily enforce social distance guidelines.
She also mentioned that the city usually attracts visitors who come by car, rather than by plane, due to the somewhat remote location.
“Visit Santa Maria Valley calls on visitors to discover the region in a safe and responsible way,” said Harrison. “Our wine tasting rooms, outdoor spaces, restaurants and hotels have worked together to evolve health and safety protocols so that visitors can experience the charm of the area.”
The program was launched because the Yelp Economic 2020 report recently found that small towns that rely on tourism have been significantly affected by the pandemic.
