More than 7.5 million people are expected to visit New Hampshire this winter, a 5 percent increase from last year. Spending by those visitors is estimated to be 7 percent higher than last year reaching approximately $1.08 billion dollars.
New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) previewed the state’s winter marketing campaign at a recent event at the Littleton Welcome and Information Center (WIC). DRED, in collaboration with the NH Department of Transportation, joined with state and local officials and members of the state’s tourism industry at the Littleton WIC for an event kicking off winter operations at the state’s three seasonal WICs (Colebrook, Lebanon, and Littleton), which are reopening this winter as part of a pilot project.
“The winter season is a significant contributor to the overall health of the state’s travel sector, producing more than a billion dollars in visitor spending,” says DRED Commissioner Jeff Rose. “The three seasonal welcome and information centers provide New Hampshire with significant marketing potential for visitors coming to the state.”
Adds Department of Transportation Commissioner Victoria Sheehan, “The seasonal facilities that are reopening today, along Interstate 93, 89 and along US Route 3, are all major entry points in the northern and western parts of New Hampshire.” Under the pilot, Colebrook, Lebanon, and Littleton WIC’s will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday through March 21.
During the event, the state previewed its winter marketing campaign that encourages visitors to “Make Tracks” in NH this winter. “The Make Tracks campaign is a refreshed, integrated approach that leverages the popularity of skiing, while encouraging visitors to explore more of what makes New Hampshire the best destination in New England when the mercury drops,” says Division of Travel and Tourism Director Victoria Cimino. The state’s winter campaign is targeting strategic markets including Boston and Montreal.
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