Wounded by the pandemic, a small California town will pay tourists to visit

Wounded by the pandemic, a small California town will pay tourists to visit

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For employees in a small town, it was an alert 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 visit and stay for a minimum of two nights at one of the many hotels in the region. Payment is made by voucher that can be used at any winery, brewery or restaurant 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 amenities as California’s best-known destinations, but at a lower price, officials said.

“Santa Maria Valley has a lot to offer,” Jennifer Harrison, director of the Santa Maria Valley Visitors Bureau, told CNN. “We have beautiful beaches, hotels and wineries that are a great option for budget-conscious travelers during a period of economic recovery.”

In fact, the Central Coast region has 13 beaches and 34 tasting rooms, all within a 30-minute drive, according to the Vale de Santa Maria website, which lists dozens of activities, including hiking, golf, art exploration and bird watching.

Safety first

Harrison said his team is working diligently to follow the CDC’s security protocols, adding that the Santa Maria Valley is less crowded than other California destinations and can apply social distancing guidelines more easily. 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’ invites 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 develop health and safety protocols so that visitors can experience the charm of the area.”

The program was launched because the Yelp 2020 Economic Average report recently found that small towns that depend on tourism have been significantly affected by the pandemic.

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