FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Karen Glenn Hood
410-767-6318
kglenn@choosemaryland.org

DESTINATION MARYLAND: THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO MARYLAND STATE TRAVEL
2008 Tourism Guide for Maryland Now Available
 
BALTIMORE (March 24, 2008) – The Maryland Office of Tourism Development has released its 2008 edition of Destination Maryland: The Official Guide to Maryland State Travel. This free full-color magazine contains a variety of fun-filled features and itineraries; listings for more than 2,000 tourism attractions, state and national parks, lodging, and tour and travel services; plus a “Maryland Welcome! Passport” good for up to $2,500 in savings at 250 participating attractions, restaurants, retailers and accommodations. To obtain a copy, the public is invited to call 800-719-5900 or visit Maryland’s official web site at www.visitmaryland.org.
“Maryland is an exceptional year-round vacation destination for day trippers and overnight travelers alike,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “The 2008 Destination Maryland guide showcases Maryland’s wealth of historical, cultural and tourist attractions.”

Destination Maryland is specifically designed to assist prospective visitors in planning their trips to Maryland.  The guide details information by region as well as by type of trip, such as family fun, romantic getaway or golfing.  Also included is a special section highlighting Maryland’s abundant outdoor offerings – from water sports to hiking and biking trails to state parks and forest amenities.

The guide, which is funded primarily through advertising by the state’s counties and private-sector tourism industry, is available at Maryland’s 13 Welcome Centers and distributed upon request to consumers within Maryland’s primary travel market, determined as being within 400 miles of the state’s borders.

Maryland’s latest visitor data confirms that in 2006, Maryland welcomed more than 28 million visitors who generated more than $11.4 billion in visitor spending. That figure is up from $10.7 billion the previous calendar year.  During 2006, the Maryland tourism industry generated more than $895 million in state and local taxes and provided more than 116,000 jobs to Maryland residents.

The Maryland Office of Tourism is an agency of the Division of Tourism, Film and the Arts within the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED).

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