ETW Staff– Mumbai
Visit Florida has introduced free official Florida guide apps for tablets. The overarching themes for the travel guides are beaches, theme parks and shopping, which represent the most popular desires of Florida’s international visitors. The content also caters specifically to each audience, with videos, photography and stories translated and curated according to their special interests.
There are seven apps in all; English-language versions for the United Kingdom and India, which is an emerging travel market with substantial micro-communities of family and friends throughout Florida; a Portuguese-language app for Brazil, now the number one overseas market for Florida Tourism; Spanish for the Hispanic market and Latin America; Mandarin for China and its exponentially growing middle class; and German and French for two of Florida’s longtime loyal markets.
Will Seccombe, president and CEO, Visit Florida, said, “These international apps reflect our commitment to telling Florida’s great story. We want to be as sophisticated in our storytelling internationally as we are domestically.”
The apps are usable offline; no WiFi is necessary. Ideally, travellers will download the travel guide before they embark, in order to have the content at hand regardless of internet connectivity when they arrive. The visually rich travel guides will feature professionally reported travel journalism with images and videos; an interactive map showing key destinations and additional opportunities within reach; and links to vital US transportation information.
Susannah Costello, vice president of global brand, Visit Florida, said, “These apps will give Florida’s visitors a digital concierge to help them access all that Florida has to offer – in their own language, without roaming charges.”
