Tampa Bay Leaders Hope For Tourism Boost With RNC

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) _ A coalition of economic development agencies have bought a 20-page special section touting the Tampa Bay area in Southwest Airline’s Spirit magazine and US Airways Magazine to coincide with the Republican National Convention later this month.

Southwest, Tampa International’s biggest carrier, will make the magazine available on all its flights starting Wednesday.

It’s expected to reach 6 million readers this month.

The Tampa Bay Times (http://bit.ly/MYWCjF) reports that the magazine spread was paid for from a $350,000 budget that Tampa Bay and Company is using to market
the bay area during the RNC.

More than 50,000 people are expected to visit the area for the RNC and officials hope the influx _ and the television broadcast _ will have a positive effect on the region’s tourism.