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Thursday, September 11, 2025

Michigan to relaunch tourism campaign while Whitmer discourages travel during COVID-19

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The Pure Michigan tourism campaign focuses on attracting travel to Michigan -- but during the COVID-19 pandemic, travel to or within Michigan has been discouraged by the governor. | stock photo

The Pure Michigan tourism campaign focuses on attracting travel to Michigan -- but during the COVID-19 pandemic, travel to or within Michigan has been discouraged by the governor. | stock photo

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will relaunch its Pure Michigan tourism campaign this month, in spite of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's urging residents to avoid travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will do all we can to support our industry by encouraging residents across our state to continue to travel safely through winter,” MEDC top executive Mark Burton told the Detroit Free Press, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential.

Pure Michigan will focus its advertising on in-state and regional travel. While the $15 million taxpayer-funded campaign is promoting travel, Whitmer is encouraging residents to stay home for the holidays.

“We all know the next two months are going to be hard,” Whitmer said at a recent press conference, according to Michigan Capitol Confidential. “Too many people traveled for Thanksgiving, and we will see our numbers increase very likely because of it. And that’ll coincide with the next big holiday, Christmas, and too many people are considering traveling. And I’m reiterating, please don’t. About four weeks after that, we will see the impact of that.”

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