VisitArizona.com

Arizona Office of Tourism Launches Digital AZ Parks Passport 

Kicks off 2022 National Park Week, April 16-24

 

PHOENIX (April 14, 2022) — The grandeur of Arizona’s 50+ parks, monuments and recreation areas is now even easier to explore with the release of the new digital AZ Parks Passport from the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT). Just in time to kick off 2022 National Park Week on April 16, the pass delivers trip ideas, directions and even the chance to win great prizes right into the palm of your hand.

Access to the free passport is delivered instantly to phones and mobile devices after a quick sign-up on AZParksPassport.com. Users gain access to descriptions, maps and directions to Arizona parks, plus a fun way to choose a park to visit (park admission not included). For those who just want to experience the diverse beauty of Arizona, parks are also divided into categories such as “colorful canyons,” “dark sky wonders,” “lush landscapes” and several more.

“Road trips and outdoor exploration have been such popular activities, so we believe Arizonans and visitors will enjoy this new way to discover our parks,” said Debbie Johnson, director of the Arizona Office of Tourism. “The only thing required is a desire to get out and explore Arizona!”

“Arizona is so diverse and offers so many different types of parks to explore,” said Bob Broscheid, executive director of Arizona State Parks and Trails. “We’ve seen more and more visitors come to our parks to learn about Arizona’s history, explore the trails, and try something new. We’re excited to offer this new way to discover the outdoors!”

Visitors who use the passport’s easy check-in feature at parks they visit are automatically entered to win some amazing prizes. Every check-in is an entry, so the more parks visited equals more chances to win! Winners will be randomly selected during National Park Week next year, so there’s plenty of time to plan trips to visit Arizona’s park sites and earn entries. As a bonus, users who share in-park photos on social using #ArizonaParksPassport may be awarded a Random Act of Sunshine (small prize) as well. Major prizes include:

  • $1,000 gift card to Mesa-based RV rental company Cruise America
  • $500 gift card to Arizona State Parks, good for camping and cabin reservations, shop merchandise and tours.
  • America the Beautiful Annual National Park Pass, an $80 value, good at 2,000+ federal recreation sites.
  • Arizona-themed box of swag to hit the road in style

“To make it even more fun, we’re releasing our AZ Parks Passport now to help locals and visitors plan their trips to explore Arizona during National Park Week,” Johnson added. “And if you need a little extra incentive to head out, everyone gets free admission to all National Parks sites this Saturday, April 16th too!”

National Park Week is an annual celebration encouraging people across the country to discover all the amazing views and experiences offered across U.S. National Park sites. Parks across the country will host a variety of special programs, events and digital experiences throughout the event, which runs Saturday, April 16 - Sunday, April 24.

The AZ Parks Passport is powered by Bandwango, a travel technology platform that empowers DMOs, CVBs and other event or destination promoters to offer dynamically curated, digitally delivered access to places and experiences for both visitors and locals to enjoy.

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Media Contact: Josh Coddington, (480) 438-4700, [email protected]

About the Arizona Office of Tourism: The Arizona Office of Tourism works to strengthen and grow Arizona's economy through travel and tourism promotion, positioning Arizona as the leading tourism destination for domestic and international travelers. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism employed almost 200,000 Arizonans and contributed over $3.5 billion in tax revenue to our federal, state and local economies.