Data-Driven Insights Reveal Connecticut’s Tourism Revival

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, many states (including Connecticut) have struggled to revive their tourism sectors. This sector took the biggest hit during that time, as people around the world were forced to stay in their homes.

When travel was permissible again, many still wanted to stick to their local areas.

Everyone was in the same boat, and each state took a unique approach to boosting tourism. Without a doubt, the Connecticuts Find Your Vibe campaign surpassed expectations.

Find Your Vibe

The Find Your Vibe campaign was originally launched in June 2022. It received a tremendous amount of support and received multiple awards, due to its amazing snippet into the various lifestyles and cultures in Connecticut.

The short videos showed the LGBTQ+ cultural hotspots, the various and unique sporting activities, the festivals and games you could expect, as well as the unique food and hotel stays.

There are 3 clips, each lasting around 30 seconds, and yet in that time, it gave the audience a clear look into the exciting cultural and community vibes of Connecticut.

The Connecticut Government

Noelle Stevenson, the director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism, shared her comments on the campaign.

“We are thrilled to unveil the new summer tourism campaign and CT Visit website, incorporating a new look, feel, and energy.

The campaign and website showcase Connecticut’s tourism assets from a vibrant, edgier, and inclusive angle, reflecting our various lifestyles and communities, attractions to adrenaline-pumping activities, unique places to stay to culinary experiences, cultural hotspots to LGBTQ+ celebrations, multicultural festivals to gaming, and so much more.”

What The Stats Say

Mike Wilson from Connecticut Entertainer, recently conducted a survey of 1,000 Connecticut residents and visitors to better understand their travel preferences and the reasons behind the state’s tourism revival. Here’s a data table with some key findings from our survey:

• 73% of respondents expressed interest in outdoor activities, reflecting a growing trend towards safe and socially-distanced experiences.
• 64% of respondents were willing to travel within a 100-mile radius, indicating a strong market for businesses targeting local and regional explorers.
• 80% of respondents were drawn to Connecticut’s picturesque landscapes and quaint towns, contributing to the state’s tourism revival.
• 77% of respondents said they were highly satisfied with their stay. This is a high response from an extreme viewpoint.

What This Means

We have also secured expert commentary from Mike Wilson, founder of Connecticut Entertainer, a renowned travel expert and author, who says, “Connecticut’s tourism revival can be attributed to its diverse range of attractions, such as picturesque coastline, quaint towns, and numerous outdoor activities. The state has capitalized on this by promoting safe travel experiences and encouraging residents to explore their own backyard, creating a thriving domestic tourism market.”

The word “safe” is rather important, as it completely rejects the currency advertising of Florida which is actively discouraging diversity and LGBTQ+ safety.

Speaking out so strongly, when other states are on the attack, shows just how safe LGBTQ+ people are in this state.

The Find Your Vibe wording also suggests finding out who you are in more ways than one. It suggests an attitude of exploration, and joining in with all types of hobbies. This change in the advertisement also follows the change in cultural ideas. We are in a time where physical fun is more important than academic cultural learning or expecting our jobs to fulfill our personal goals.

Noelle Stevenson talked about this in her interview stating “This is a very exciting time for tourism, and we look forward to welcoming our community, visitors, and digital nomads to experience Connecticut from a wide-angle lens, and simply ‘Find Your Vibe,’”

This campaign has shown how Connecticut matches the current cultural views of inclusivity, personal exportation, and community.

Stevenson’s mention of digital nomads cements the idea that traveling, even when working is possible, and it’s a lifestyle that many Connecticut residents share.

Looking at the financial side, tourism from Connecticut was bringing in $16.4 billion in 2019, which was a record. Due to COVID, this dropped to $11.3 billion in 2020.

Through the Find Your Voice campaign, this figure rocketed back to $15.4 billion in 2021, and in 2022 Connecticut broke its own record by reaching $17 billion.

Final Thoughts

Connecticut tourism has boomed because of its Find Your Vibe campaign which encourages you to come to the area and figure out who you are. You can do this by hiking across their scenic locations, joining in all of the sporting activities they present, or simply experiencing the rich cultures in the area.

During winter or summer, this state has activities for everyone to explore.