Tourism Slogans: 15 Favorite Phrases

By Tracy Stewart
Airfarewatchdog.com

It's a tough task to capture the appeal of a destination and plug 'em into a punchy slogan. Some slogans become real hits, and -- in the case of "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" -- go on to inspire movies (The Hangover franchise, for example).

Other catchphrases are forgettable or just plain odd, but all deserved a spot on our list of the world's best and worst tourism slogans.

Photo Caption: The ubiquitous "I Love NY" T-shirt is for sale in New York City's Chinatown.

Guys, can we get past the whole potatoes thing already? We get it. You grow potatoes. So does Ireland. And in Peru, they even grow flashy little purple ones -- something they don't bother to disclose on the license plates.

Oh sure, everyone loves a potato, but as an incentive for boarding a plane? Not so much. Why not talk up the ski slopes of the northern Rocky Mountains around Sun Valley? Or vodka?

Have a look at Airfarewatchdog's fare pages for Boise and Sun Valley.

Photo Caption: Idaho's former tourism slogan "Famous Potatoes" appeared on the state's license plates.

Just as Sex and the City attracted throngs of sassy travelers to shoe-shop in Manhattan, the state of Delaware has found similar success among robotic-child tourists, thanks to the critically acclaimed 1980s sci-fi series Small Wonder. Just kidding! We're pretty sure this refers only to Delaware's size.

But everyone knows that Rhode Island is our teeny-tiniest state, so it's a good thing that Delaware has moved on to a new state slogan: "It's Good Being First," emphasizing their place in history as the first state to ratify the Constitution. Also? They have great beaches!

Photo Caption: "Small Wonder," one of Delaware's tourism slogans, appears on the state's welcome signs.

C'mon, think! Think! Surely there must be someone you know living in Pennsylvania that you could visit. It's a big state. Nobody springs to mind? Well, how about making a brand-new friend in Pennsylvania? Maybe you'll exchange Hershey's Kisses with a sweet stranger at Hersheypark, or meet a fellow Billy Joel enthusiast in Allentown. Afterwards you can take a trip together to the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, home of the Steelers. And then there's Philadelphia …

See Airfarewatchdog's fare pages for Allentown, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg.

Photo Caption: Pennsylvania's license plate used to feature the state slogan "You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania."

Yes, unlike that cold heartless unrequited love of yours just 94 miles northeast, Philadelphia promises to return the favor and love you back. As for the nature of these favors, that's between you and the good people of Philadelphia to work out in private. Or -- if you like -- in public, among the crowds at Independence National Historical Park, the Betsy Ross House, running the Rocky steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, or enjoying brunch in artsy Fishtown.

See Airfarewatchdog's fare page for Philadelphia.

Photo Caption: Philadelphia's current tourism campaign is "With Love, Philadelphia XOXO"

Yes, you may one day wake up and find yourself in California with no memory of just how or why. Instead of racking your brain with silly little details, just go out and enjoy all that California has to offer (none of which is alluded to in that vaguely spiritual slogan). From the Golden Gate Bridge to Hollywood Boulevard, at least you should manage to stay pretty busy.

See Airfarewatchdog's fare pages for San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs.

Photo Caption: "California: Find Yourself Here" is the state's tourism slogan.

That's right, all you sad-sack single types. Don't dare come a knockin' when this state's a rockin'. Virginia has branded itself as the green M&M of America. And it was all by accident -- in the late 1960s, a series of ads geared toward beach lovers, mountain lovers, and history lovers was deemed too specific. So as corny and cringe-worthy as this slogan may be, it sure does the trick for VA tourism.

See Airfarewatchdog's fare pages for Norfolk, Newport News, and Richmond.

Photo Caption: A "Virginia is for Lovers" baseball cap

It's not great, but -- meh -- it's OK, if you're into that kind of a thing. Doesn't exactly ring with enthusiasm, does it? Or maybe it's meant to allay concern, as in "Don't worry about us, we're OK."

Oh, Oklahomie. Instead of falling back on your abbreviation, why not talk up your history, and brag about your fertile land? What you lack in beaches, you make up for by being the only state to inspire a musical.

See Airfarewatchdog's fare pages for Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

Photo Caption: "Oklahoma is OK" is Oklahoma's tourism slogan

Only slightly more memorable than the VH1 reality show of the same name, I Love New York is the travel slogan all others can only hope to become. Created by Milton Glaser in 1977, I Heart NY logo appears on everything from deli bags to the ubiquitous T-shirts folded in bulk outside of every Manhattan souvenir shop. The iconic logo is regularly riffed by cities around the world. There's no denying its success, but what does it really convey about the state of New York?

Visit Airfarewatchdog's fare page for New York's Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark, and Long Island.

Photo Caption: A pile of "I Heart NY" T-shirts

It's as if they're urging you to consider other vacation options: "Canada? Keep looking" or "Canada? Next!" Of course, this couldn't be further from the truth, as Canada -- the second largest country in the world -- is home to an expansive wilderness, beautiful coastline, and hot spots such as Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.

Photo Caption: Canada's tourism slogan appears on a wall.

Don't worry. The slogan "Visit Bangladesh before tourists come" may have been retired, but that doesn't mean you'll find the place overrun with visitors. Locals, yes. Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. So though it may feel crowded, rest assured it isn't as a result of tourism. Which is why after much debate, they've adopted a new short-and-sweet tourism slogan: Beautiful Bangladesh.

Photo Caption: A tourism poster for Bangladesh with the tourism slogan, "Visit Bangladesh Before Tourists Come."

Greece has had a tough time in recent years, especially in terms of finances -- and tourism campaigns. First came the underwhelming choice of slogan in "Greece. Beyond Words," followed by what sounded like an accusation of delusional grandeur with "Live Your Myth." The country has currently settled on "You in Greece," which sounds a little like hot potato talk.

But why bother trying to dazzle with words? With more than 6,000 islands and several millennia of history, they shouldn't really have to sweet talk you into booking a trip.

Photo Caption: Seen on a German tourism billboard, "Live your myth in Greece" is one of Greece's recent tourism slogans.

Well, it's more like a burning sensation in the esophagus. Just take an Alka-Seltzer, and you'll feel well enough to hit up the beaches of this cultural and geographic hodge-podge island, the third largest in the Mediterranean. Technically in Asia but politically European (and with strong ties to both Turkey and Greece), Cyprus became independent from the United Kingdom in 1960. A little bit of everything!

Photo Caption: "Cyprus in your heart" is the tourism slogan of Cyprus.

The latest campaign from the Philippine Tourism Board sure sounds unflappably cheery, but was soon eclipsed by a meme showcasing some of the … uh … bleaker aspects of local life. Say what you will but this is a big improvement from their previous ho-hum slogan, "WOW Philippines."

Photo Caption: "More fun in the Philippines" is the travel slogan of the Philippines.

Can't say it with 100% certainty, but it's possible. Sounds a bit vague, does it not? Looks like you'll have to rely on your own specific reasons for wanting to make the trip, because South Africa isn't giving you any with this slogan.

Photo Caption: "South Africa: It's Possible" is the country's tourism slogan.

In a big country, dreams stay with you, like a lover's voice fires the mountainside, stay alive. Wise words from a fellow Big Country. But let's get serious, Slovakia. Which one is it? Are you little or big?

Photo Caption: "Little Big Country" is the tourism slogan of Slovakia.