Posted Feb 24, 2020 | By Janis Flippen

What Does Visit Oxnard Do?

The team at Visit Oxnard has one of the coolest jobs in the world – promoting the town we love! We play a vital role in the city to attract visitors to our beachside town, which we consider the “Best Kept Secret on the Central Coast!”

The Visit Oxnard Team (Photo by Bucket List Bride)

With a dedicated Board of Directors and our tourism partners by our side, we are making strides to help visitors discover for themselves what a special place Oxnard is. And, it’s personal for many of our key Oxnard ambassadors who go back generations, many of whom are still running family-owned businesses that span decades.

Why Does Visit Oxnard Exist?

As our name implies, we are in the business of encouraging visitors to stop, stay and play in Oxnard. Travel matters as it improves Oxnard in ways that have a wide-reaching impact on Oxnard residents. Travel supports thousands of travel-related jobs in Oxnard, and it also makes an impact on what we do not always see: travel can strengthen families, foster hometown pride, and build bridges that connect us with one another.

What Are Visit Oxnard’s Goals?

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3… 1) Improve the lives of our local residents by attracting visitation to boost transient occupancy tax. Taxes collected on visitation provide money to the city so they can fund services like police, fire, roads, social services and so much more. 2) Boost destination awareness. 3) Showcase the incredible culture, outdoor adventure, family-friendly activities and group travel opportunities available in our beautiful city!

The Topa Topa mountain range over the Oxnard Plain. (Photo by Carsten Schertzer)

How do we Roll?

Persistence pays off as we continue to deliver a strong and consistent marketing message to help bring visitors to Oxnard.

Our goal is to stand out among competing destinations and keep those tourism dollars in our local hotels, restaurants, attractions and other businesses that count on this revenue to help with their bottom line. To accomplish this, we utilize social media, blogs, advertising and special events. We also invite travel journalists and influencers to town who can add credibility to our message by sharing their own experience, first-hand.

Tourists – Who Needs ‘Em? We Do!

Travel creates and supports 15.6 million jobs across the U.S., making it the seventh largest private sector employer.

In 2017, traveler spending generated $165 billion in total tax revenue, including $76 billion in state and local revenue. That $76 billion can pay for a host of critical resources: it’s more than enough to pay all state and local police and firefighters, or the more than one million public high school teachers.

whale watching channel islands
Wildlife Excursion Aboard Island Packers to Anacapa Island, Channel Islands National Park.

Okay, fine, but what does that mean to the locals? Visitors do help the economy and Oxnard is no exception.

Locally, Oxnard and Ventura County continues to thrive from visitor spending. According to Dean Runyan Associates, visitor spending in 2018 reached $1,801.9 million in Ventura County, supporting 17,360 jobs, a 5.3% and 3.2% boost from the previous year.

Plus, visitor spending helps support our town in what matters the most – preserving our natural resources, helping to ensure fire & police services, fostering infrastructure and helping to improve our parks and schools. The tourism multiplier effect trickles down into all segments of the local economy. For example, when a visitor books a hotel room, that individual buys products and services that help pay for wages.

Think back to your first job – Did it have an impact on tourism?

Maybe you worked at a tourism-based business such as Island Packers or at a hotel or restaurant starting at an entry-level position and then moving up to a higher-level position. Or maybe you know someone whose career advanced because of tourism.

Red Tandem Brewery in Oxnard, California. (Photo by Cali Godley)

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

To help us tell the world how special Oxnard is, a logo and brand was developed to paint a picture of this classic, sun-loving, historical treasure called Oxnard.

Paying homage to Oxnard’s diverse attractions and laid-back approachable culture, our brand helps us convey our story.

Our logo uses friendly, fluid letters and a strong horizontal line to emulate the sun sinking into the ocean. Oxnard’s classic car culture is also visible in the presentation of the lettering, which brings to mind California legacy plates, or perhaps a classic analog odometer.

The surprising color palette uses warm “sun” and cool “water” tones mixed in with some vintage pastels to elicit a feeling of nostalgia and belonging. We hope residents and visitors connect with this authentically Oxnard imagery, which will serve as the face of our organization and the unique beach community we represent.

Okay, so now what?

Tourism is the only industry where consumers arrive, spend and leave with limited environmental impact, yet with strong economic benefits. And, of course, have some fun along the way.

We are here to not only generate revenue for the city but also help create fun memories and experiences – a place for visitors to enjoy all that we have to offer and return again and again.

Only 60 miles northwest of LAX and in close proximity to Santa Barbara, Oxnard is a special place where both residents and visitors can:

Feel stirred, not shaken in Oxnard – It’s your place to “Mix Things Up!


About the Author:

Janis Flippen

Janis Flippen has an extensive career in public relations, specializing in tourism. Agency experience includes Bob Thomas & Associates and Carl Terzian Associates in Century City. She has represented Oxnard, Ventura, Ojai, Santa Clarita and Lompoc.

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