Abstract

In 2014, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo launched Path Through History, a project connecting New York’s historical and cultural heritage sites. This effort aimed to benefit New York State by promoting the important historical past of New York, as well as highlighting the tourism industry and economic development throughout the entire state as a whole. One million dollars in funding was distributed among ten tourism regions throughout New York State, in an effort to assist each region in creating a unique tourism-marketing plan. This paper focuses specifically on the Finger Lakes Region and its use of the Path Through History grant funding, in conjunction with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Together, the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) and RIT used the grant funding allocated to the Finger Lakes by developing an interactive mobile application called Finger Lakes Interactive Play (FLIP). FLIP is an interactive application that provides an educational scavenger hunt leading visitors throughout 12 different historical sites in the Finger Lakes Region. Visitors at each site are invited to utilize the free FLIP application, which offers games and activities like trivia questions, spot the difference, and augmented reality features. The application aims to engage visitors with unique and entertaining exercises, simultaneously promoting entertainment and education. Mobile technology can be found in almost all aspects of business, leisure, and education, including libraries, museums, and cultural sites. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the objectives and explore the effectiveness of the FLIP application, as well as evaluating the challenges and successes of implementing its marketing and promotional efforts. A case study approach was used to analyze the current strategies implemented at each of the 12 historical sites.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Tourism--New York (State)--Finger Lakes Region--Interactive multimedia--Evaluation; Finger Lakes Region (N.Y.)--Description and travel--Interactive multimedia--Evaluation; Mobile apps--Testing

Publication Date

6-15-2015

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Hospitality-Tourism Management (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Hospitality and Tourism Management (CAST)

Advisor

Richard M. Lagiewski

Advisor/Committee Member

Carol Whitlock

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at F127.F4 K47 2015

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

HSPT-MS

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