How Tourism
Works for You: The Power of Local Advocacy

Discover The Palm Beaches (DTPB) is honored to be featured by Destinations International for our innovative approach to blending marketing and advocacy efforts. But what does “tourism advocacy” mean for our local residents and why does it matter?

It’s no longer just about attracting visitors to fill hotel rooms. Today, having the support and involvement of our local community is essential. At DTPB, engaging with Palm Beach County residents isn’t an afterthought – it’s something we passionately believe in, as we work to help keep the local tourism economy strong. At the end of the day, we know local residents are most impacted by tourism, which is why our Destination Stewardship & Civic Engagement and Marketing teams work hand-in-hand to ensure that our advocacy efforts are backed by effective marketing.

Our resident-focused marketing campaigns, such as “Love The Palm Beaches” and “Sea To Preserve,” have become integral parts of the “The Palm Beaches Tourism Advocacy Roadshow” and all our advocacy initiatives. These campaigns promote tourism and highlight the unique beauty of our community and the people who live here. In October 2024, DTPB surveyed more than 800 residents to determine the impact of the Love The Palm Beaches campaign, which showed those exposed to the campaign were more likely to support more tourism and much more likely to take a staycation and invite friends/family to visit, positively contributing to bed tax growth.

The success of these efforts has earned us recognition from Destinations International (DI), the global association for destination professionals. DI is showcasing our work on their “The Destination Effect” website, emphasizing how destination promotion can transform a place into a desirable location to visit, live, work, play, and invest in—ultimately building prosperity for everyone. ​

At DTPB, we believe that building prosperity and our local tourism industry go hand-in-hand. Our advocacy efforts with city, county, and state leaders are driven by this belief, ensuring the benefits of tourism are felt throughout Palm Beach County.

We extend our gratitude to Destinations International for recognizing and appreciating our efforts to serve Palm Beach County. To learn more about our story, visit “The Destination Effect” website.

Check out our story posted on The Destinations Effect