Destination DC (DDC) launched a campaign to let visitors
know that Washington is open for business despite the partial government
shutdown.
The "DC is Open" campaign reminds travelers that
there is more to DC than the government-run attractions that are currently
closed.
"While we're disappointed the Smithsonian museums and
National Zoo, National Gallery of Art and National Archives are now closed, the
vast majority of things for visitors to see and do throughout Washington, D.C.'s
neighborhoods remain open," said Elliott Ferguson, CEO of DDC. "It's
a great time to find a deal in the city and explore The Wharf, our Michelin-rated
dining scene, watch a hockey or basketball game, or see a show."
During the shutdown, open air parks and memorials on the
National Mall remain accessible as are many museums. DDC has a list of what's
open and closed on its website, along with "shutdown
deals."
Kate Gibbs, DDC's senior media relations manager, said that
it's too early to tell whether visitation has taken a hit due to the shutdown,
and that the first week of January is thankfully not a peak travel time for the
city.
"By no means has the capital ground to a halt,"
she said, adding that the Library of Congress, Newseum, National Building
Museum and US Holocaust Memorial Museum are among dozens of open places.
DDC originally debuted a "DC is Open" campaign in
2013, when the government shut down for 16 days.