bws #209 11/11

NEW TOURISM VENUES URGED TO ADVISE COUNTY TOURISM

TOMS RIVER -- Any new tourism venues in Ocean County, which would include accommodations, restaurants, sites and attractions, are urged to provide details to the Ocean County Public Affairs and Tourism Department as soon as the information is available.

Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as the county tourism spokesperson said, "We compile a list for the representatives of annual publications who already are contacting us to find out what is new in 2012. If new venues do not tell us of their existence, they miss getting listed in that publication for the entire year. Our first publication deadline is Nov. 10."

"Since we know the first year of any new business is critical, we want to help them as much as possible. Making sure the industry and potential visitors know they exist is one way we can do that," Vicari said. Information should be sent to him at PO Box 2191, Toms River, NJ 08754-2191 or via e-mail to OceanCountyTourism@co.ocean.nj.us.

List Events
"We also are asked about what major events are planned for the upcoming year," Vicari said. "So, it is important for organizations and businesses to give us those details now and not just before the event happens."

Vicari said, "Each year, subject to funding in the budget, the Board of Chosen Freeholders sponsors an economic development effort, the Matching Tourism Promotional Grants program for nonprofit and government agencies." Applications for that effort, which support the promotion of tourism, will be available in mid-December and are available from the Public Affairs and Tourism Department by calling 732-929-2000. Funds cannot be used for the hard costs of holding the event. They are solely to promote it.

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