Monaco Offers Lower-Priced Getaways To Tempt Tourists

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Mar 12th 2009 at 10:02PM

Tourism just about everywhere from Dubai to Las Vegas is hurting and now some places that have never had to deign to ask for your tourist dollars are throwing out the welcome mat. Bloomberg reports that the ultra-pricey small country of Monaco is offering travel packages costing around $500 to attract new visitors. Monaco is traditionally a vacation spot for some of the world's wealthiest people. But hotel bookings dropped eight percent in January and with the worldwide economic crisis affecting many deep-pocketed globetrotters the country wants to let people know it is open to more than just the rich. A new five-year marketing plan from Monaco's tourism board will get the message out that all are welcome in Monaco. The country still hopes that the well-heeled, especially those coming in on luxury cruises and yachts, will visit but right now anyone with cash is welcome. As my colleague Jared Paul Stern reported last year, Monaco has already shelved plans for a multibillion dollar land expansion into the Mediterranean which would have created more space for shops and apartments.

Tags: monaco, tourism