The Iowa Economic Development Authority’s Iowa Tourism Office announced July 1 it issued a financial incentive to encourage travellers to use its Build a Trip tool to plan road trips to and across the state.

“The Fuel Your Road Trip initiative will provide a $25 gift card via email to anyone who plans their road trip using the Build a Trip tool available at traveliowa.com (while supplies last). In addition, each week through August 31, the Iowa Tourism Office will give away a $200 gift card,” the release said.

The office would award 930 $25 gift cards to “legal U.S. residents 18 or older at the time of entry with a mailing address in the contiguous United States,” with a limit of one sweepstakes or “prize giveaway prize” per email address during the promotion period, the sweepstakes rules stated. Tourism Communications Manager Jessica O’Riley told The Center Square via email on July 6 that the giveaway has closed after issuing “nearly 1,000” gift cards.

“We know there’s pent-up demand for travel this year. As people start venturing out, they’re more apt to stay closer to home and road trip to control their environment,” O’Riley said. “The promotion encourages people to travel and help the tourism industry rebound.”

While the office’s $25 gift card giveaway has closed, the $200 gift cards are still available, along with the state’s passport programs, which are available for state parks, scenic byways, wineries and breweries, O’Riley said. The office would provide participants hashtags they can use on social media to try to win additional gift cards, according to the release.

O’Riley said the money came from the office’s fiscal year 2021 marketing budget of $2.75 million, which represents dollars from the general fund, the Iowa Wine and Beer Promotion Board and gaming revenue. She said all marketing dollars were expended in fiscal year 2021.