New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development

New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development
Agency name	New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development
Formed	1960s
Jurisdiction	New Hampshire
Headquarters	Concord, New Hampshire
Parent agency	New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs

Contents

New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development The New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development is the official state tourism office responsible for promoting New Hampshire attractions such as the White Mountains, Lake Winnipesaukee, Mount Washington, and cultural destinations including Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Manchester, New Hampshire, Hanover, New Hampshire, and Dover, New Hampshire. The division liaises with entities like the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, the New Hampshire State Legislature, the New Hampshire Governor, and regional organizations including Visit New England, U.S. Travel Association, and tourism bureaus in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts to develop travel strategies that connect sites such as Franconia Notch State Park, Mount Monadnock, Franconia Ridge, and Kancamagus Highway to visitors.

History

The division traces roots to mid-20th century state initiatives modeled on programs in Vermont and Maine and influenced by federal efforts like the U.S. Travel Promotion Act era policies, with legislative actions in the New Hampshire State Legislature and budget oversight from the New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services. Early efforts highlighted destinations such as Conway, New Hampshire, Jackson, New Hampshire, Littleton, New Hampshire, and Keene, New Hampshire and coordinated with heritage sites including Strawbery Banke Museum, Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, and Weirs Beach. Over decades the division adapted to shifts in transportation from Amtrak routes and Interstate 93 traffic patterns to digital media trends exemplified by Google and Facebook, while responding to crises that affected travel in the region like national downturns referenced by United States recession periods and public-health events addressed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

The division operates under the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs with executive oversight from the New Hampshire Governor and policy guidance from the New Hampshire State Legislature. Its leadership includes directors who coordinate with state agencies such as New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation, New Hampshire Department of Transportation, and entities like New Hampshire Hospital Association for event planning near cultural institutions including Plymouth State University and Dartmouth College. Budget approvals flow through the New Hampshire Governor's Office and fiscal committees in the New Hampshire State Senate while compliance aligns with statutes enacted by the New Hampshire General Court and administrative rules overseen by the New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives.

Programs have promoted natural attractions such as the Appalachian Trail, White Mountain National Forest, and recreational offerings at Gunstock Mountain Resort and Waterville Valley while supporting heritage tourism at sites like Canterbury Shaker Village and Christa McAuliffe Planetarium. Initiatives include grant programs for regional marketing administered with partners like North Country Council, Seacoast Growers Association, and Southern New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission, joint campaigns with Visit New England and New England Museum Association, and seasonal event promotion for festivals such as the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival partnerships, and winter programming tied to New England Patriots regional travel packages. The division also runs visitor centers located along corridors near Interstate 95, Interstate 89, and U.S. Route 4 and provides tourism data collection modeled on methods used by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau.

Marketing efforts leverage digital platforms including collaborations with Google, Facebook, and TripAdvisor alongside traditional media buys in outlets such as The New York Times, Boston Globe, and Conde Nast Traveler. Campaigns highlight outdoor recreation at Lake Sunapee, Great Bay Estuary, and Crawford Notch State Park while packaging cultural itineraries linking Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Currier Museum of Art, and performances at Capitol Center for the Arts (Concord, New Hampshire). The division coordinates cooperative advertising with chambers of commerce in Seacoast communities, regional attractions like Story Land, Santa's Village, and lodging associations including the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association to target markets in Boston, New York City, Montreal, and Toronto.

The division produces tourism data estimating visitor spending, employment, and tax receipts similar to analyses by the U.S. Travel Association and the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration. Reports quantify impacts on sectors serving travelers to destinations such as Bretton Woods, Mount Sunapee, and Ragged Mountain Recreation Area and measure metrics comparable to studies by the Federal Highway Administration and Bureau of Economic Analysis. Economic assessments inform policy decisions in the New Hampshire State Legislature and funding allocations approved by the New Hampshire Governor's Office and fiscal committees in the New Hampshire State Senate.

The division partners with regional organizations like Visit New England, national groups such as the U.S. Travel Association, non-profits including the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, academic institutions like Dartmouth College and University of New Hampshire, and municipal entities in Portsmouth, Concord, New Hampshire, and Manchester, New Hampshire. Collaborative programs involve the New Hampshire Department of Transportation for wayfinding, the New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation for trail stewardship, conservation partners such as The Nature Conservancy, and event organizers for festivals in Hampton Beach and Great North Woods. These alliances extend to cross-border initiatives with Maine, Vermont, and Canadian provinces represented by tourism bureaus in Quebec.