To highlight the quantity and diversity of activities in the Durango area, the Durango Area Tourism Office launched a new campaign: “A Dozen Vacations in One Destination.”
This message expands on the previous “Get Real” campaign and is designed to encourage visitors to plan more time to truly experience everything that Durango offers.
We recognize that travelers from all walks of life and from all over the world come to the Durango area for a variety of reasons. Our new travel planner offers visitors more than a dozen ideas to help plan their Durango vacation: from Old West heritage, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Mesa Verde National Park and two national monuments to an abundance of outdoor recreation and trails, skiing, golf, shopping, arts and culture.
With the increased awareness of sustainability and health, agri-tourism is a growing travel trend, and La Plata County has become a role model for local food and farm-to-table cuisine. Our fine-dining options and variety of craft breweries attract the culinary tourist and surprise the unsuspecting visitor.
Southwest Colorado’s diverse ecosystem and four seasons allow the traveler to explore pristine mountain peaks, deserts, rivers and lakes. We offer the outdoor sportsman and recreation enthusiast a year-round playground.
We encourage meeting planners and event organizers to “think outside” the city box and bring their groups to Durango for educational and business retreats, sports tournaments, weddings and family reunions.
For those who need another reason to travel here, Durango hosts a special event or festival almost every week of the year.
With an increased number of media stories – including recent coverage on the “Today Show” – we are pleased with the excitement generated by our new campaign and its ability to communicate to travelers the many treasures our area offers. We are optimistic that this expanded representation of Durango’s many attractions will result in an increase of visitation, spending and an extended stay in our destination.
Patti O’Brien is executive director for the Durango Area Tourism Office. DATO is a nonprofit that promotes Durango and La Plata County’s multitude of tourism attractions. DATO is funded by a lodgers tax collected on lodging rooms in Durango and La Plata County. O’Brien can be reached at director@durango.org or 247-3500.
