BALTIMORE (AP) - A new report says tourism in Maryland rose by 3.2 percent in 2013.
The Maryland Office of Tourism Development released its annual tourism report Tuesday. The report attempts to measure the effectiveness of the state's tourism efforts, and the impact travel and tourism have on the state's economy.
Margot Amelia, the agency's executive director, says "tourism has been and continues to be a powerful economic engine for Maryland."
The agency says tourists and travelers spent $15.4 billion on travel expenses in Maryland in 2013. That includes local transportation, food and beverage, lodging, retail and entertainment.
The agency says visitor spending has grown by more than 3 percent for four consecutive years and has grown by more than 21 percent since the recession.
Delaware: A New Slogan
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - Delaware tourism officials have apparently decided that size does not matter.
After years of touting Delaware as a "Small Wonder," state officials on Monday announced a new tourism brand identity that doesn't mention size, and instead defines Delaware as a land of "endless discoveries."
Officials say the idea is to create an image among consumers that surpasses any preconceptions about Delaware, which is smaller than any other state except Rhode Island.
The new brand is the focus of a new advertising campaign aimed at female consumers, who tend to take the lead in planning vacations.
Previously adopted slogans for Delaware, the first state to ratify the Constitution, have included "The First State," ''The Diamond State," and a place where "It's Good to be First."
