Oklahoma § 74-2230 - Travel Promotion Division

§ 74-2230. Travel Promotion Division

A. The Travel Promotion Division shall:

1. Encourage the orderly growth and development of tourism to

and within the state by preparing and maintaining a comprehensive

five-year travel development master plan and supporting marketing

plan jointly with the private sector;

2. Create and convey an accurate, responsible, and elevated

image of the state and its natural, cultural, historical, and

recreational attractions and events;

3. Organize, coordinate, and conduct state, regional, national,

and international marketing programs to increase the number of

domestic and international travelers to Oklahoma;

4. Create, develop, produce, distribute, implement, and

evaluate the effectiveness of public information programs, including

publicity, brochures, public relations activities, film and slide

production, still and audio visual photography, digital and

electronic media, public service programs, advertising, and other

informational aids for the promotion of tourism to the general

public and the media;

5. Coordinate, advise and provide technical assistance to

cities, counties, and regional tourism organizations in the state in

the planning, development, and execution of tourism programs;

6. Cooperate and participate with neighboring states and the

federal government to promote travel from domestic and international

markets;

7. Develop and partner with other entities of government and

private entities to obtain timely research data to measure traveler

volume and economic impact, determine traveler profiles, evaluate,

and analyze market and advertising effectiveness;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government

8. Plan, coordinate, and conduct statewide conferences,

seminars, and workshops to inform and educate representatives from

the public and private sector in the state about programs and travel

trends which affect the tourism industry;

9. Provide organization and coordination assistance to public

and private tourism promotion organizations for participation in

cooperative advertising and promotion opportunities with the

Department, including travel trade marketplaces, consumer sport,

travel, and recreation shows within and outside the state;

10. Administer matching grant programs to multicounty

organizations which promote travel and tourism to their areas of the

state that are consistent and coordinated with the statewide travel

marketing plan; and

11. Assist other state agencies with special tourism promotion

projects, development of professional training opportunities and

other projects which provide services to travelers.

B. The Division may facilitate travel to and within the state

by encouraging development of a tourism industry infrastructure

which provides investment incentives to tourism businesses and

tourism product development.

C. The Division may contract with professionally qualified

companies or individuals for services to assist in the development

and production of advertising, promotion, publicity, and public

relations programs, primary and secondary research data collection

including analysis of state travel marketing programs and economic

impact information.

D. The Division may plan, construct, lease, operate, and

maintain state-of-the-art tourism information centers and a central

fulfillment warehouse. The centers shall be utilized for the

purpose of providing services, selling merchandise, and distributing

information to travelers on the tourism facilities and opportunities

in the state.

E. The Division may, upon approval of the Commission, lease for

a reasonable rate, retail and advertising space in state-operated

tourism information centers. A performance bond, certificate of

deposit, letter of credit, or cash equivalent, may be required by

the Commission on any such lease.

F. Photographs, film recordings, video recordings, digital

records and like recordings or records produced by or for the

Division shall be available for public inspection during Division

business hours; however, the Division shall not be required to

provide copies or allow copying of the materials.

Added by Laws 2005, c. 363, § 31, eff. Nov. 1, 2005. Amended by Laws

2006, c. 90, § 2, emerg. eff. April 24, 2006; Laws 2010, c. 249, § 4,

eff. July 1, 2010.