Bellone launches ‘staycation’ campaign for Suffolk

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone launched a “Stay Suffolk” campaign to get Long Islanders to vacation locally.

Bellone, joined by state and county officials at Robert Moses State Park, highlighted the county’s wine country, top-ranked beaches and Splish Splash water park, spokeswoman Vanessa Baird-Streeter said.

As part of the campaign, Bellone and officials asked residents to post photos at local spots on social media under the hashtag #StaySuffolk.

The campaign is designed to enhance the region’s $5.3 billion tourism industry by getting locals to consider the region when considering vacations. “Sometimes we take for granted what surrounds us,” Baird-Streeter said.

By David M. Schwartz

dschwar1@newsday.comschwartznewsNY

David Schwartz covers environmental issues. A native Long Islander, he's worked at Newsday since 2013.