PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- To attract visitors to Palm Springs during the economic downturn, tourism officials have started promoting the city via a blog, social networking Web sites and other online marketing ploys, a city official said Thursday.
"Like every other domestic tourist destination in the county, Palm Springs has felt the impact of a slowing economy," said city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell.
The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism is tapping into low-cost marketing techniques by advertising the city via a blog, e-mail newsletter and new Web site address and new section on the city's tourism Web site, Blaisdell said.
"Our winter marketing campaign will provide new avenues to reach new visitors through publicity events, online and social media, contests and other fun promotions," said Mary Jo Ginther, director of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism.
The newsletter will contain information about upcoming events and vacation packages, Blaisdell said.
The new blog, which began last month, has information about upcoming events, attractions and even updates on the local weather.
"In the Midwest it is freezing weather," according to a blog posting on Wednesday. "Today in Palm Springs it is 81 degrees."
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As people cut back on airline travel, the city is also trying to attract tourists from nearby Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.
The Palm Springs International Airport projected in December that its revenue will drop 5 percent this year, according to The Desert Sun.
Total passenger traffic in November was down 14.5 percent from the previous November, the newspaper reported.
