Miami tourism officials are putting the city’s black and ethnic communities at the forefront of a new tourism push.
The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched a new multicultural tourism department aimed at attracting tourists to ethnic neighbourhoods such as Little Havana, Little Haiti, Opa-locka and Overtown.
The multicultural tourism department will collaborate with groups such as the Black Archives of South Florida and the Little Haiti Cultural Center to plan marketing campaigns.
The department earlier this month launched a sightseeing tour through Overtown,in partnership with Big Bus Tours.
"This is a major step for ethnic neighbourhoods and these are untapped markets," said Graylyn Swilley-Woods, interim vice-president of the multicultural tourism department.
Swilley-Woods said the bureau will promote popular events like Miami Gardens’ Jazz in the Gardens and showcase Art of Black Miami as part of Miami Heritage Month in December.
"This is good for the Black community," said Miami City Commissioner Keon Hardemon.
"Miami has more to offer than just beaches and nice weather. All of us here know that Miami is much more than South Beach and downtown."
