I can speak for everyone across Arizona’s hospitality industry when I say that we’re all looking forward to hosting increasing numbers of visitors through a slow and steady approach to economic recovery and re-energization.”

Debbie Johnson, Arizona Office of Tourism

After a summer of canceled or halted vacationing plans, people are looking at the fall season as a much-needed reprieve from confinement. Arizona tourism agencies have prepared to accommodate this increased excitement by bringing in more tourist activity to the state.

Fall travelers reach out to At Boutique Travel Advisors in Paradise Valley to help plan their trips. Arizona’s variety of outdoor activities gives the state a unique advantage by offering good vacation options that allow for the practice of physical distancing, according to Janet Semenova, co-founder of the agency.

“Starting in about October the weather really breaks and so we have really perfect ideal temperatures for outdoor activities such as golf and hiking,” Ms. Semenova said.

Typically, tourists will make trips during the fall due to the more temperate climate that follows the hot summer.

“We have people that reach out to us that want to come to Arizona and create unique activities and unique experiences that encompass different types of interests so we build itinerary around the person’s individual interest level,” Ms. Semenova said.

This season, as well as anytime someone should think of visiting Arizona in the later months, she recommends a few staple sites like the Grand Canyon and Sedona for visitors who are new to the state. Along with those classic destinations, she also recommends taking more unique trips to sites like Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell.

“Those are all just spectacular destinations and if people have the time to fit those in then we always recommend adding those to the itinerary,” she said.

With less of a focus on driving in tourism, the agency is more dedicated to providing their customers with a more tailored experience of Arizona.

The Arizona Office of Tourism, however, is focused on attracting tourists back. Debbie Johnson, director of the Arizona Office of Tourism, explained in an email that they are ready for people to visit.

“I can speak for everyone across Arizona’s hospitality industry when I say that we’re all looking forward to hosting increasing numbers of visitors through a slow and steady approach to economic recovery and re-energization,” Ms. Johnson wrote.

As a means of stimulating tourism locally as well as nationally, the office has launched several campaigns in order to address the issue. In late July, they hosted the first virtual Governor’s Conference on Tourism where they discussed plans for recovery in the tourism industry.

The office also launched its “Rediscover Arizona” campaign aimed at people who call Arizona their home. It was meant to start stimulating travel and tourism in the state in the hopes of spreading this trend to other surrounding states. The campaign has been put on pause for now due to travel restrictions but they are eager to reopen when the time is right.

“Our focus right now, with all of our Arizona tourism promotion partners across the country and the world, is to encourage future travel to our state by keeping Arizona top-of-mind for potential visitors,” Ms. Johnson wrote.