Leave Syria, visit Florida? Tourism agency makes error

visit florida ad

Florida’s tourism marketing agency was forced to sign a new contract after a newspaper pointed out it hired a firm to advertise to potential Syrian tourists.

VISIT FLORIDA officials said Friday a “clerical error” caused them to include Syria on a list of countries the agency planned to advertise in.

VISIT FLORIDA CEO Ken Lawson signed a $14,000 contract with a German advertising firm back in March that included Syria and nine other Middle Eastern countries.

President Donald Trump included Syria on a list of countries covered by a temporary travel ban.

A spokesman for the agency blamed the mistake on someone cutting and pasting a list of Middle Eastern countries into the contract.

After The Naples Daily News asked questions, VISIT FLORIDA signed a new contract Wednesday that listed only Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Associated Press



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