New Experiential Exhibit Promotes Texas Vacations

AUSTIN, Texas, July 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Tourism is unveiling Texas on Tour, an all-new experiential exhibit that gives potential travelers a taste of the fun and adventure the Lone Star State has to offer. The tour will make multiple stops across the U.S. from August 2 – November 3, beginning with Musikfest in Pennsylvania.

The new Texas on Tour will virtually transport participants to Texas through five interactive gaming experiences. When entering the exhibit, guests are given a passport to Texas that serves as their activation key for the games that await them inside, as well as a fun keepsake. Once used to activate a personal kiosk, the passport becomes a life-sized, interactive guidebook to different attractions throughout the state. Guests use touch-based technology to play games that highlight vacation experiences in Texas including family attractions, music, beaches, ranches & rodeos, and outdoor adventure. Participants will walk away with Texas prizes, including the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Texas.

"With an updated exhibit that provides immersive gaming experiences and gives visitors and potential travelers a glimpse of the many unique vacation options the Lone Star State offers, we are excited to showcase the latest version of Texas on Tour," Texas Tourism Director Brad Smyth said.  

As the exhibit travels the U.S. it will make stops at identified source markets for travelers to Texas, including:

Interactive Gaming Experiences at Texas on Tour:

• Dolphin Trainer
  Visitors have the unique opportunity to virtually visit one of the many theme parks Texas has to offer and be a professional dolphin trainer. Visitors are instructed to perform movements that interact with the onscreen dolphin, instructing them to do flips, turns and even reward them with a fish.
• Texas Music Jukebox
  This Texas music experience allows viewers to explore the rich and unique music scene through a jukebox trivia game.  The game features historic Texas venues and the vast variety of music genres available to explore in the Lone Star State.
• Jet Ski Obstacle Course
  To experience the 300 miles of Texas beaches, visitors take part in a fast-paced virtual Jet Ski course, navigating around buoys and other water obstacles as they're rated on speed and accuracy.
• Cattle Drive
  To get a taste of Texas' western heritage and the many guest ranches and rodeos the state offers, visitors to this experience saddle up and try their hand at herding cattle from their position atop a horse.
• Rock Climbing
  Guests can reach new heights while learning about all the beautiful outdoor experiences Texas has to offer with a virtual rock climbing experience.  Guests will ascend a steep rock face by correctly choosing handholds in order to reach the amazing summit view.

Visitors to Texas on Tour will also have the opportunity to enter the Texas on Tour Sweepstakes. Consumers can enter online for the chance to win a trip to experience Texas in person. The six-day/five-night trip for two includes roundtrip air transportation to the Lone Star State, plus accommodations. The winner will choose one of the following Texas vacation packages: Great Outdoors at Big Bend National Park, Urban Adventure in Austin, Beach Getaway in Galveston or Cowboy Excursion in Bandera. Participants must be 21 years of age or older to enter the sweepstakes.

For more on all there is to see and experience in Texas, visit www.traveltex.com and find us on Twitter (@texastourism), Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

Note to Media: An official Texas on Tour spokesperson will be available at tour stops for interviews and media tours. Photography is also available upon request. Please contact Abby Van Uum (512-634-3642 / [email protected]) for assistance.

About Texas Tourism
Texas Tourism's mission is to enhance and extend local economic development efforts by marketing Texas as a premier travel destination in out-of-state domestic and international markets, generating non-Texan travel to the state, thereby creating revenue and jobs. Travelers in Texas enhance state and local economies as evidenced by preliminary estimates of $65 billion in direct travel spending in 2012 and more than 220 million domestic visitors to Texas destinations last year.  Travel and tourism directly supported 568,000 Texan jobs and generated $4.4 billion in state and local taxes in 2012.

SOURCE Texas Tourism