WASHINGTON— Washington on Tuesday, Feb. 19 launched a new round of efforts to draw reluctant tourists in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, saying a multimillion-dollar promotional campaign would target families and schoolchildren. Announcing pledges of more than $1 million from local businesses including Marriott International, American Express, and Verizon to fund the drive, Mayor Anthony Williams said more was needed to get the U.S. capitals $9 billion tourist industry back to normal. Advertising and special promotions at local restaurants and on the subway over the past months had contributed to better-than-expected hotel occupancy and sales tax rates, he said. Hotel occupancy rates had climbed to 74% from a low of 25% in the immediate aftermath of the airborne attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. December sales tax revenues were just 12% lower than projections rather than the 50% officials had feared. The White House just last week reopened its doors to school tours, following in the footsteps of the Capitol and Library of Congress and winning applause from local leaders eager to banish Washingtons post-attack image as a town of fear and barricades. Nevertheless, the school tours which usually pack the Capitol and White House during the spring and summer were expected to be noticeably fewer this year, officials said. SOURCE: Reuters
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