Tourism represents a key component of the economic development efforts in the region.
The Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT) promotes travel to Arizona through advertising, branding, and marketing. AOT’s primary target audience consists of “empty nesters” and “affluent boomers,” which it describes as those in the age group of 43 to 60 years old with an annual household income of $75,000 and up, and who have no children at home.
Their secondary target audience is Generation X, which it describes as those in the age group of 27 to 42 years old with an annual household income of $75,000 and up, and who might or might not have children at home.
AOT partners with other state and federal entities to promote tourism. Examples of these partnerships include National Geographic – Geotourism MapGuide; Arizona-Mexico Commission; CANAMEX; Border Governors Conference; Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative; US Travel Association; and Scenic Roads.
In addition to efforts by AOT, individual communities in the SEAGO region forge partnerships to increase tourism and improve information flow to potential visitors. One such partnership is the Cochise County Tourism Council (CCTC). The marketing efforts of the CCTC, which are funded by the individual communities, Cochise County, and grant dollars from AOT, market Cochise County as a single entity.
Another example is Arizona’s Salsa Trail, which includes Safford, Pima, Thatcher, Solomon, Clifton, Duncan, Willcox, and York. The trail promotes Mexican restaurants along the scenic Old West Highway, combining regional travel and dining.
Opportunities for a wide variety of recreational experiences are available in the SEAGO region for visitors and residents. The region has 5,200 square miles of land controlled by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Included in this land are scenic mountainous areas and several riparian areas suitable for backpacking and hiking. Recent tourism efforts have emphasized geotourism and ecotourism themes suitable to the region.
The region is also rich in history, art, and culture. All of the communities maintain local parks that include opportunities for baseball, tennis, picnicking, and relaxing. The majority of the region’s visitation occurs from December through May and popular activities include shopping, visiting historical attractions and museums, nature exploration, and guided tours.
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