Jaunted

Florida

Fark vs. Florida: Round 2

January 4, 2008 at 1:19 PM | 2 Comments

Visit Florida has unleashed a revamped website, gunning for the same kind of smashing success Philadelphia has racked up with its Web 2.0 initiative, uwishunu. After asking for a bigger budget last year, tourism officials are actually spending the loot on tourism initiatives that should boost visitor arrivals. Go figure!

The new Florida site offers all the usual suspects, including a trip planner tool that lets you save useful tidbits to your online profile, videos and an extensive events calendar. The site also offers blogs on 10 different subjects; arts and culture, shopping, golf, fishing and beaches are just some of the choices. On the beach and surf blog, for example, you'll find up-to-date beach reviews, a Google map mashup and a video about snorkeling.

Of course, this shouldn't be the only place you look for Florida info. Why's that? Because it's produced by the tourism board, who's editorial judgement we have to question:

Businesses listed on VISITFLORIDA.com are participants in the VISIT FLORIDA Partners program or are members of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, the Florida Attractions Association or the Florida Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds. Partners must be at a Silver level or above to be listed on the site.

That gripe aside, it looks like Fark will finally have some good news to publish about Florida: The state has finally embraced the Internet!

Related Stories:
· Visit Florida [Official Site]
· Fark vs. Florida [Jaunted]
· Florida Travel coverage [Jaunted]