Maine, N.H. woo convention refugees

With the Democratic National Convention promising to gridlock Boston, tourism officials are promoting Maine and New Hampshire as places to escape the crowded roads and political hoopla.

Maine has placed ads on Boston trains that read, “Democracy’s great, but so is going on vacation.”

The subway placards are running in addition to Maine’s regular advertising.

“This is specifically targeting the convention, Bostonians who would be interested in getting out of town at that particular time,” said Donna Reinheimer, the Maine Office of Tourism’s marketing manager.

Likewise, New Hampshire’s Division of Travel and Tourism has bought Boston-area newspaper ads promoting the Granite State.

Some feature pictures of a crowded subway car and bumper-to-bumper traffic encouraging viewers to flee to New Hampshire. Others appeal with the country road.

“While the delegates are exercising our country’s freedom, we invite you to exercise some of your own,” one ad reads.

Laurie Klefos, director of the New Hampshire tourism division, said her campaign has focused on attracting delegates from the convention as well as Bostonians seeking to escape it.

“We know from our research that 40 percent of our visitors in the summer come from Boston,” Klefos said.

Maine and New Hampshire officials say convention refugees are especially attractive to tourist spots because the event runs midweek, which often is a slow period at inns and resorts.

But visiting delegates also are a target. New Hampshire sent each convention delegate a state guidebook and an invitation to visit the Granite State, Klefos said.

Though it’s difficult to tell how successful the promotion will be, Klefos says it looks promising.

The Democratic National Convention runs July 26-29.