TAMPA, Fla. – Travel to the Tampa Bay area saw an uptick on Tuesday, with tourism leaders hoping the holiday season helps the year go out with a bang.
Visit Tampa Bay CEO Santiago Corrada said his agency has been planning for this time of year by launching ad campaigns in early 2023 targeting tourists in cold weather states.
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“Florida has been known to be that tourism state with year-round great weather. So obviously, the state has capitalized on that advantage,” Corrada said.
For more than a century, Florida has been luring travelers with promises of wintertime sand and sunshine.
Postcards and ads from the state archives dating back to the early-to-mid 1900s depict holiday beach scenes, poinsettias paired with palms and, of course, iconic images of Santa lounging in the sand.
“That’s classic marketing. You know, Santa taking a few days after his big …