*Updated to include additional photos and information including details about how the attractions are selected and whether the commissioner is being paid for his role.
MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Marion County hopes a new video series will attract more visitors to the area.
The Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau (OMCVCB) is rolling out a series of videos on YouTube called the Marion Insider’s Guide.
The videos will highlight the “hidden gems” of Ocala/Marion County said the OMCVCB in a news release.
The series is hosted by Marion County Commissioner Carl Zalak, III who sits on the Marion County Tourist Development Council. A spokesperson tells us Zalak is not receiving compensation for hosting the video series.
“The series pairs the Commissioner’s knowledge of Marion County with a variety of experts across many facets of the Ocala/Marion County tourism landscape,” the release stated. “Focusing on providing Ocala/Marion County visitors with insider tips to exploring the destination, this new series dives into, not just – what – you can do on your vacation to the area, but – how – to do it best.”
The visitor’s bureau says the episodes feature local experts, tell stories about the county’s unique offerings, and showcase an insider’s point of view to the destination.
The first episode, which is 15 minutes long, is equestrian-themed. In it, Zalak interviews Dennis Thompson, the owner of Gypsy Gold Horse Farm, about the history of the Gypsy Vanner breed of horses and the hands-on experiences available for visitors. Zalak then visits Horse & Hounds Restaurant where he heads into the kitchen to learn the secret to making one of the menu staples, beer-battered fish & chips. It wraps up on the downtown square at the Walk of Champions.
The county says they select the locations that are featured must be tourism-related and are not paying to be featured.
“One of the goals of this new series is to broaden the reach of the marketing efforts of the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau utilizing YouTube as a vehicle for capturing more engagement with visitors and potential visitors,” the release stated.
The bureau says YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world and opens up the potential for the video series to be seen by a huge audience, many of whom might be considering their next vacation spot.
The first episode was posted on the OMCVB’s YouTube channel on Saturday, June 28. As of this writing, the episode has 106 views.
The county plans to produce at least five more episodes and they’ll be released about every other month.
The county says videos offer more opportunity for engagement than static images or text and believes a series can capture the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of a destination in a way that makes viewers feel like they’re already there, but still inspire them to visit, according to the release.
The episodes can be found on the OMCVCB website or on the organization’s YouTube Channel.