AUBURN - From the natural beauty of lakes and other scenery to attractions like historical landmarks and related places of interest, tourism is an ever growing industry throughout New York state and particularly in the Finger Lakes region.

Drawing more interest and attention to that is at least in part what promoted New York state to offer Explore New York grants.

Working in conjunction with Steuben and Ontario counties, Cayuga County received a $15,000 matching grant, and through the work of all three partner counties, that sum totals $30,000 to help promote attractions in the three areas.

On Monday morning, Meg Vanek, executive director of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism, along with Erin Divincenzo of Clark CSM Ltd. (a public relations firm), presented the recent steps the three counties have taken to implement this idea.

Collectively, the three counties decided to focus on a theme called “Teacups and Treasures” that will focus on what Vanek called Americana experiences.

“The idea is to draw attention to the arts,” Vanek said. “Things like Tiffany glass at Willard Chapel or the Cayuga Museum, but also to promote the Americana idea of the front porch, public architecture and promote this in these three counties and get more people here and be able to put together a trail of places they can visit and places they can also stay and eat, bed and breakfasts things like that, so that it all ties in together.”

Representatives from places such as the Willard Chapel, the Seward House and The Center, met to listen to the presentation.

Divincenzo said that collectively, all three counties have a great deal to offer and stand to benefit greatly from tourism revenues through this program.

“People love to discover things,” Divincenzo said, “things off the beaten path and having the feeling they have discovered and seen something no one else has had and this is something that we can offer.”

Divincenzo said that a trail like this, that combines these kinds of attractions would most likely appeal to two-income homes who have children in college and more time for travel as well as college age art students, interested in exploring what the area has to offer.

Through various ad campaigns and marketing to companies like the American Bus Association, which caters to package-style tours, Divincenzo said the plan's next phase is to get the idea out to people that there is something unique in these areas.

Divincenzo said that there are also plans to offer something unique to visitors on the tour.

“Like on the wine trail tours in the winter they offer a make-your-own wreath,” Divincenzo said. “So we want to do something to make your own piece of art. Visitors will get a bracelet and for each stop they will receive a bead for their own bracelet giving them something uniquely their own to take away.”

Current plans are focused towards making this an attraction for the off-peak season, late spring through early summer.

Vanek said the next phase is to begin aggressively planning a trail between all three counties that can be put out in brochures and mail-based advertisement campaigns.

Participating businesses would be asked to collect visitor data and feedback for a report the counties must submit to the state.

But Vanek said this is a relatively small request in comparison to the benefits that could be gained.

“You'll get out of it what you put in,” Vanek said. “We'll see if this is going to work, maybe it won't, but it might be something great and something we can continue into 2009 with another grant.”

Vanek said they would like to begin tours by April 1.

For more information visit www.explorenyart.com