A. The Travel Promotion Division shall:

1. Encourage the orderly growth and development of tourism to and within the state by preparing and maintaining a comprehensive five-year travel development master plan and supporting marketing plan jointly with the private sector;

2. Create and convey an accurate, responsible, and elevated image of the state and its natural, cultural, historical, and recreational attractions and events;

3. Organize, coordinate, and conduct state, regional, national, and international marketing programs to increase the number of domestic and international travelers to Oklahoma;

4. Create, develop, produce, distribute, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of public information programs, including publicity, brochures, public relations activities, film and slide production, still and audio visual photography, digital and electronic media, public service programs, advertising, and other informational aids for the promotion of tourism to the general public and the media;

5. Coordinate, advise and provide technical assistance to cities, counties, and regional tourism organizations in the state in the planning, development, and execution of tourism programs;

6. Cooperate and participate with neighboring states and the federal government to promote travel from domestic and international markets;

7. Develop and partner with other entities of government and private entities to obtain timely research data to measure traveler volume and economic impact, determine traveler profiles, evaluate, and analyze market and advertising effectiveness;

8. Plan, coordinate, and conduct statewide conferences, seminars, and workshops to inform and educate representatives from the public and private sector in the state about programs and travel trends which affect the tourism industry;

9. Provide organization and coordination assistance to public and private tourism promotion organizations for participation in cooperative advertising and promotion opportunities with the Department, including travel trade marketplaces, consumer sport, travel, and recreation shows within and outside the state;

10. Administer matching grant programs to multicounty organizations which promote travel and tourism to their areas of the state that are consistent and coordinated with the statewide travel marketing plan; and

11. Assist other state agencies with special tourism promotion projects, development of professional training opportunities and other projects which provide services to travelers.

B. The Division may facilitate travel to and within the state by encouraging development of a tourism industry infrastructure which provides investment incentives to tourism businesses and tourism product development.

C. The Division may contract with professionally qualified companies or individuals for services to assist in the development and production of advertising, promotion, publicity, and public relations programs, primary and secondary research data collection including analysis of state travel marketing programs and economic impact information.

D. The Division may plan, construct, lease, operate, and maintain state-of-the-art tourism information centers and a central fulfillment warehouse. The centers shall be utilized for the purpose of providing services, selling merchandise, and distributing information to travelers on the tourism facilities and opportunities in the state.

E. The Division may, upon approval of the Commission, lease for a reasonable rate, retail and advertising space in state-operated tourism information centers. A performance bond, certificate of deposit, letter of credit, or cash equivalent, may be required by the Commission on any such lease.

F. Photographs, film recordings, video recordings, digital records and like recordings or records produced by or for the Division shall be available for public inspection during Division business hours; however, the Division shall not be required to provide copies or allow copying of the materials.

Added by Laws 2005, c. 363, § 31, eff. Nov. 1, 2005. Amended by Laws 2006, c. 90, § 2, emerg. eff. April 24, 2006; Laws 2010, c. 249, § 4, eff. July 1, 2010.