AUGUST 13, 2020
OREGON SOUTH COAST REGIONAL TOURISM NETWORK
THE MORAL DILEMMA OF TOURISM DURING A PANDEMIC

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. That’s what it can (and does) feel like for many destinations right now. After months of zero or near zero visitation, leisure travel has returned in earnest, and in some instances, it feels like the floodgates have been opened. How, then, do destinations balance the urgency and pressure to generate much needed revenue and economic recovery, with the responsibility of protecting the health and safety of the community and its residents? It’s a moral dilemma that is being debated across the globe, including at some of the country’s most popular leisure travel destinations. [continue reading]
VIRUS UPENDS TOURISM MARKETING, SPARKS IDEA OF 'SAFECATIONS'

The coronavirus has upended the way cities and states market themselves as summer travel destinations, and some tourism officials are just emerging from an especially awkward position: telling potential visitors to stay away.

The pandemic’s effects can be seen on promotional websites that acknowledge the new risks of travel. An Illinois site encourages people to explore the state’s natural wonders from their sofas. Virginia’s main tourism site features a mountain range with the message “We’ll be waiting for you.”

“We really had to ask ourselves, ‘When is it irresponsible to ask people to travel? What do we do as a tourism brand?’ We can’t come out and tell people to plan a trip because we have no idea when people are going to be traveling again,” said Lindsey Norment, brand director at Virginia Tourism.
COVID-19 TOOLKIT FROM TRAVEL OREGON

In an effort to support our partners in a time when up-to-date information is crucial, Travel Oregon has created a toolkit that points to resources from national and state public health organizations to give you all the information you need around COVID-19, including Communication & Messaging, Survey Opportunities & Data, Federal, State, Regional, & Local Resources, Travel Information, and more!
ARE YOU A RESTAURANT THAT OFFERS TAKEOUT?

If so, get listed on Oregon2go.com today!

Oregon2go.com is a partnership with Travel Oregon and the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA), and is an online platform that restaurants can list what's open for take-out and/or delivery.
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SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKITS

These toolkits were created to assist you in building social media campaigns for Oregonians about relevant health and safety measures currently in place in the state. Browse and download any toolkits you may find helpful for you and your community.
ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE UPDATE

View the slide show presentation prepared by Guy Tauer, Regional Economist, Oregon Employment Department.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
POINT WEST CREDIT UNION
COVID-19 EMERGENCY BUSINESS GRANT
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on our local small businesses. Thanks to generous support from Business Oregon, Point West is offering a limited number of grants for qualifying small businesses. Take our pre-application survey now to begin the application process.

  • $2,500 (no verification required); or
  • Up to $5,000 (verification of 60 days fixed expenses)1
Grants will be awarded on a first-come-first served basis with a focus on sole proprietorships. All applications are due to Point West by no later than Monday, September 4, 2020.
Oregon South Coast Regional Tourism Network
Pressing Sand!
541-347-5653
PHOTO CREDITS: Road signs "Moral Dilemma" by Egor Myznik, Woman with camera by Katie Drazdauskait, Schooners Restaurant by Allison Richards, "Hero" via Travel Oregon, Forest via Travel Oregon, Statistics slide by Guy Tauer, Floras Creek Coffee Roasting by Cort Muller