Cleveland works with Pittsburgh to boost tourism

Clevelanders have heard the siren song of advertisements to bring their children to "Kidsburgh."

This is a new cross-promotional effort, as Positively Cleveland is promoting travel packages in the Steel City.

The "Kidsburgh" campaign started on May 17. If you book a trip on the Kidsburgh website (a hotel stay and tickets to at least one of 11 attractions), GetGo will throw in a free, $25 gas card.

The attractions in the Kidsburgh program include:

• Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History (one price for both museums);
• Carnegie Science Center;
• Children's Museum of Pittsburgh;
• Duquesne Incline;
• Gateway Clipper Fleet
• Kennywood amusement park;
• National Aviary;
• Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens;
• Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium; and
• Sen. John Heinz History Center.

Positively Cleveland is trying to lure Pittsburgh vacationers in the same way, offering a PlusPass Card. You can buy a card for two, three, or five days and visit up to 10 attractions (once each) during that time for a savings of 30 percent.

The 10 Cleveland attractions meant to entice vacationers are:

• Children's Museum of Cleveland;

• Cleveland Botanical Garden;

• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo;

• Cleveland Museum of Natural History;

• Holden Arboretum;

• Lake Metroparks Farmpark;

• Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage;

• Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland;

• Western Reserve Historical Society; and

• Cleveland Museum of Art.

The PlusPass is also good for discounts at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, Pro Football Hall of Fame (in Canton), Northfield Park Harness Racing Track, and several other attractions, retail shops and restaurants.

Tinsy Lipchak, the Executive Director of Tourism & Cultural Heritage for VisitPittsburgh, said tourists enjoy seeing other cities' versions of the attractions in their own cities.

"I think Cleveland and Pittsburgh tourists are comfortable in each other's markets," she said. "I may love my zoo, but I want to see your zoo. Members of a children's museum or science center can now see another version."

While the Kidsburgh program is only two months old, it has already shown signs of success.

"Every one of the Pittsburgh attractions has seen an increase in ticket sales," Lipchak said.

Kidsburgh representatives made live appearances on Channel 19 in Cleveland, while the Positively Cleveland staff tried to drum up business at this year's Pittsburgh Art Festival.

Clevelanders visiting Pittsburgh for the first time will find that it's "not all steel mills and black-and-gold sports jerseys," Lipchak said.

"The perception of Pittsburgh as a rust-belt town is not the case any more," she said. "It's a beautiful place with environmentally-conscious people and lots of things to do."