James E. McGreevey
Governor

William D. Watley
Secretary of Commerce

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Karen Wolfe - 609.292.2523

NEW JERSEY LAUNCHES ONLINE TRAVEL GUIDE FOR
PLANNING CUSTOMIZED TRAVEL ITINERARIES

New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism Marks
‘ National Tourism Week’ with Unveiling of Web-based Tool

Trenton (May 13, 2004)—The New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism today marked National Tourism Week with the unveiling of the new online New Jersey Travel Guide. The Web-based tool enables visitors to search the Garden State’s wealth of events, attractions, and accommodations all in one place. Visitors can also download maps/directions to points of interest around the state, enabling the creation of customized travel itineraries through the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism Web site (www.visitnj.org).

“The online New Jersey Travel Guide is a passport to entertainment in New Jersey. From the mountains and cities of the north to the 127 miles of white sandy beaches in the south, travelers visiting our state can personalize their travel itineraries online at a click of a mouse,” said Nancy Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism. “We’re pleased to mark National Tourism Week with the introduction of this new tool for New Jersey residents and visitors.”

To help plan their visit to New Jersey, visitors to the online travel guide portion of the Web site can customize their day trip, weekend getaway, or long vacation. Once a specific event, attraction or accommodation has been selected, the user can obtain detailed information and view a map of the location.

The online travel guide is organized into five sections:

• The Events section allows visitors to view a list of 17 categories of events and planned activities, ranging from antiques to sporting events.
• The Attractions section features 15 categories of attractions from which visitors can choose, ranging from New Jersey’s beautiful beaches to its preserved state parks.
• The Accommodations section offers travelers nine options to extend their visit in New Jersey. From bed and breakfast inns to an overnight stay in an Atlantic City casino, travelers can select from myriad lodging opportunities.
• The Maps/Directions section provides a map of New Jersey to explore or search a particular address or destination.
• The MyTripStops section compiles users’ travel information to view in one location. Visitors can create personalized travel itineraries, including custom start and end points. By adding two or more addresses, visitors can obtain driving directions.

Held this year from May 8 through May 16, National Tourism Week is an annual event that celebrates the importance of the travel and tourism industry’s economic, cultural and social contributions to the United States. Communities from across the country observe this annual event.

Parties interested in receiving a free copy of the 2004 New Jersey Travel Guide can contact the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism at 800-VISITNJ (847-4865) or visit the Web site at www.visitnj.org.