In actuality, Nebraska probably is not for everybody, however it’s time for the state’s tourism fee to drop the slogan and provides the world an opportunity to determine for itself.
It has been 4 years because the Nebraska Tourism Fee adopted its slogan, “Nebraska. Truthfully, it isn’t for everybody,” which has impressed each reward and criticism, has been the topic of tales in nationwide publications and mock from the late-night pundits.
In reminding the world that the Good Life shouldn’t be for everybody, it generated about $7.1 million in publicity worth and reached almost 885 million individuals, stories the Omaha World-Herald.
And whereas consideration could also be good, it isn’t clear it did a lot to do what it got down to do: get individuals to come back right here.
The joke has run its course, and possibly it is time to inform individuals why they need to come right here. Possibly it is time to suggest the apparent — the Henry Doorly Zoo, the Faculty World Sequence and Memorial Stadium on a crisp fall Saturday — whereas showcasing some promoting factors that most individuals do not find out about.
Individuals are additionally studying…
Most individuals haven’t any clue of what Nebraska has to supply west of Grand Island. They know little of the Lake McConaughy State Recreation Space, Nebraska’s historic forts — Fort McPherson, Fort Kearny and Fort Sidney amongst them — or the pure great thing about the sand hills.
Nebraska has world-class golf programs in Valentine, Mullen and Gothenburg that may be off the crushed path however would measure as much as any you will discover in different states.
These are promoting factors — causes for individuals to come back right here. And as noteworthy because the “it isn’t for everybody” slogan might need been, it did not precisely extoll the message of inclusivity Nebraska ought to hunt.
The longstanding fable is that Nebraska is nothing greater than a spot to fly over or drive by way of on the way in which to a trip vacation spot.
Nebraska has historically been within the bottom-five tourism states, in line with a polling firm that makes a speciality of the sphere.
Nebraska ranked forty fifth in spring 2019, tied with Arkansas and Oklahoma, however solely 17% of individuals surveyed have been considerably or extraordinarily all for visiting. There was no ballot reported in 2020.
In spring 2021, 21% of individuals have been considerably or extraordinarily all for visiting Nebraska within the subsequent two years, and it ranked forty eighth. In its most up-to-date report, spring 2022, that quantity rose to 25% and Nebraska ranked forty fifth.
The slogan made individuals look — that is factor — however it hasn’t had sufficient of an affect economically to proceed throwing cash down this gap.
Tourism is a $3.6 billion trade in Nebraska that generates nearly $265 million in state and native taxes.
It is time to take into account one other technique, one other approach to get individuals to wish to come right here for a go to. As soon as they do, possibly they will change their thoughts and notice what we have thought all alongside.
Nebraska is for everybody.