Project to commemorate one-million Facebook fan milestone, highlight Michigan’s beautiful destinations
More than 1,000 photos submitted by Pure Michigan fans were installed and unveiled today along the Detroit Riverfront, between Rivard Plaza and GM Plaza, to kick off the unofficial summer travel season and celebrate Pure Michigan reaching the one million Facebook fan milestone.
Pure Michigan partnered with the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy to install the fan-submitted photos for the Pure Michigan PhotoWalk, which showcases the diversity and beauty all throughout the state of Michigan. The PhotoWalk, which will be available now through Labor Day weekend, highlights visual stories of what Pure Michigan means through images captured by residents and visitors alike.
“Pure Michigan’s fans serve as contributors, storytellers and ambassadors through our social media channels each and every day,” said David West, vice president of Travel Michigan. “With the milestone of reaching one million fans on Facebook, the Pure Michigan PhotoWalk celebrates our fans and their dedication and contribution to promoting our beautiful state.”
These ambassadors contribute to the overall success of the Pure Michigan campaign, which motivated 4.1 million trips to Michigan in 2014, and has generated 22.4 million out-of-state trips to Michigan since the launch of the campaign in 2006. These visitors pumped $6.6 billion into Michigan’s economy through spending at Michigan businesses.
In 2014, Michigan hosted 113.4 million visitors and that number is expected to grow. According to Sarah Nicholls, associate professor of tourism at Michigan State University anticipates that tourism volume – the amount of people traveling to and around the state – will increase 1.5 percent this year.
Memorial Day weekend often signifies the start of the busy travel season for summer, and the Detroit Riverfront is no exception. The three-and-a-half miles of riverfront attract about three million visitors annually who come to walk, run, bike, spend time with family and friends and take advantage of the quality of life opportunity a revitalized riverfront provides.
Attractions along the east riverfront include parks, plazas, pavilions, pathways and open green space, all connected by the ever popular RiverWalk.
“The Riverfront is a popular destination for the summer with events, concerts and places for everyone to enjoy,” said Mark Wallace, president and CEO of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy. “We think that the PhotoWalk will become one of the most popular activations along the Riverfront this summer for our visitors and we are very excited to have partnered with Pure Michigan for this.”
“Detroit is America’s comeback city,” added Larry Alexander, president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Our city is attracting more visitors than ever, and with the help of the Pure Michigan campaign, we are excited to continue to showcase our city and our story to local, national and global audiences.”
Pure Michigan is a brand representing business, talent and tourism initiatives across Michigan. These efforts are driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which serves as the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business growth, jobs and opportunity with a focus on helping grow Michigan’s economy.
For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit: michiganbusiness.org. For Michigan travel news, updates and information, visit michigan.org.
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