Media Kit

About COVID-19 in Salem, Massachusetts

Salem has a public health order requiring masks or face coverings be worn in all public spaces, indoors and outdoors, in the downtown district, and in Salem parks. Salem is following the Massachusetts 4-phase reopening guidelines, which is currently in Phase 4, Step 1. Most Salem businesses are open and operating under capacity restrictions that allow employees and guests to adhere to physical distancing guidelines. Due to these restrictions, all visitors are encouraged to book reservations or buy tickets in advance of arrival. As of Monday, March 22, all visitors entering Massachusetts, including returning residents, excluding travelers who are fully vaccinated, are advised to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival. Everyone planning to visit Salem in 2021 is expected to follow all local and state health orders and guidelines, which are subject to change, pending public health data. Visit salem.org/covid19 or download the Destination Salem app to receive updates.

About Salem

Salem, Massachusetts, is a destination recognized around the world for its rich history, which includes the tragic Salem Witch Trials of 1692,
the glorious maritime era that left its indelible mark on Salem through architecture, museums, and artifacts, and for its month-long celebration of Halloween. Today more than one million people visit Salem annually, generating nearly $140 million in tourism spending and supporting 1,000 jobs.

About Salem Haunted Happenings

A month-long celebration of Halloween and fall in New England, people travel from around the world to visit Salem during October.
Celebrating its 37th year, the festival features hundreds of special events in addition to attractions, museums and tours that are in Salem
throughout the year. For complete information visit HauntedHappenings.org.

About Destination Salem

As the destination marketing organization for the City of Salem, Destination Salem cooperatively markets Salem as one of Massachusetts’ best destinations
for families, couples, domestic, and international travelers who are seeking an authentic New England experience, cultural enrichment, American history,
fine dining, unique shopping and fun. For more information, visit Salem.org.

Press Contact: Kate Fox, Executive Director, kfox@salem.org or call 978-741-3252
Mailing address: P.O. Box 630, Salem, MA 01970

Media Visits

Destination Salem assists journalists on assignment for travel-related stories about Salem and/or Salem Haunted Happenings throughout the year. Visiting journalists must be a credentialed member of the media. A letter of assignment and/or direct links to previous work samples may be required.

Media Visit Request Guidelines and Form
Travel Trade FAM Request Form

Blogger/Influencer Request Guidelines

Press Releases

The magic of Salem, Massachusetts is awakened this spring with the reopening of businesses and outdoor dining, Released March 30, 2021First Salem Ancestry Days will feature four days of programming, April 30-May 3, 2021, Released March 22, 2021Experience 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts in person or virtually, Released March 9, 2021Destination Salem confirms new Board of Directors, releases 2021 Guide at annual meeting, Released February 18, 2021Salem Ancestry Days planned for April 30,May 3, 2021, Released February 1, 2021Salem, Massachusetts invites residents to “Stay Local,” shop, and safely enjoy Salem Winterlude, Released December 3, 2020
Enjoy the Holiday Spirit in Salem this Season, Released November 13, 2020City of Salem Announces Plans for a Safe Halloween, Released October 21, 2020City of Salem Announces Additional Public Safety Measures for October 16-29, Released October 16, 2020Experience Salem, Massachusetts from Afar this October, Released October 2, 2020Movie Madness in Salem this October, Released September 25, 2020Destination Salem Offers Guidance on How to Spend October in the Witch City During COVID Era, Released September 15, 2020Destination Salem launches new mobile app for visitors to plan their visit to Salem, Released September 10, 2020City of Salem announces first plans for October 2020, Released August 4, 2020Salem, Massachusetts offers virtual programming during stay-at-home advisory, Released April 13, 2020Salem Ancestry Days will celebrate and commemorate family histories and genealogy May 1-4, 2020, Released March 3, 2020Salem Ancestry Days joins a robust schedule of 2020 festivals, Released January 3, 2020Salem Ancestry Days planned for May 1-4, 2020, Released November 8. 2019Leave the broom at home and take the trail to the final weekend of Salem Haunted Happenings, Released October 21, 201937th Annual Salem Haunted Happenings returns in October, Released August 26, 20192019 Festivals in Salem, Massachusetts, Released February 8, 2019Destination Salem attends the New York Times Travel Show, Released January 29, 2019

Salem in the News

Light & Creativity to Highlight Safe Outdoor Shopping Opportunities in Salem - AMS SVS (December 14, 2020)

7 Ways to Celebrate the Season in Salem this Year - North Shore Magazine (December 4, 2020)

'Stay Local Salem' Aims To Bring Holiday Business Downtown - Salem Patch (December 4, 2020)

Salem to shut down businesses, discourage visitors this Halloween - The Daily Free Press (October 28, 2020)

Coronavirus is forcing America’s ‘Halloween towns’ to make scary decisions - NationalGeographic.com (October 26, 2020)

Hard choices in Salem, and everywhere - The Boston Globe (October 25, 2020)

A Visit to Salem, Massachusetts During a Pandemic October - The Distracted Wanderer (October 18, 2020)

To visit Salem this Halloween season, plan ahead and follow the rules - The Boston Globe (October 15, 2020)

Salem Still Casts A Spell Over Halloween Tourists, Despite Pandemic - WGBH (October 13, 2020)

From Wider Corn Mazes to Virtua Haunted Houses, Halloween Looks Different this Year - Smithsonian Magazine (October 9, 2020)

Haunted histories: Encounter educational and paranormal tours, sites in America’s most haunted cities - Group Tour Magazine (October 9, 2020)

How to do Salem in a pandemic? Plan ahead, and ‘don’t just come to wander the streets’- The Boston Globe (October 8, 2020)

Baystate Business: Covid on the Rise (Radio) - Baystate Business (October 6, 2020)

Thinking Of Visiting Salem This Halloween Season? Here's What The Witch City Needs You To Know - The Artery on WBUR (October 6, 2020)

Quick Escape: Salem - ActiveTravels.com (October 1, 2020)

Salem businesses prepare for slow Halloween season - Daily Free Press (October 1, 2020)

A shared goal of keeping Salem residents safe during heaviest tourism season - The Salem News, Opinion Page (Spetember 30, 2020)

How Popular Halloween Spots Around the U.S. Are Handling COVID-19 - TravelandLeisure.com (September 25, 2020)

Destination Salem Launches New Mobile App for Salem Visitors - NorthShoreMag.com (September 24, 2020)

Salem Halloween Casts a Spell on Visitors - TravelSquire.com (September 24, 2020)

What will Halloween look like this year? Families and communities look to revamp spooky traditions - The Boston Globe (September 23, 2020)

Bloomberg Baystate Business (1:35:43) - Baystate Business (September 23, 2020)

City of Salem preparing for most unusual Halloween season - WCVB Channel 5 Boston (September 22, 2020)

How Salem and Plymouth, fall's hottest tourism spots, are handling Covid - Boston Business Journal (September 22, 2020)

How Salem and Plymouth, fall's hottest tourism spots, are handling Covid - MassLive.com (September 22, 2020)

How Salem will be different this October due to COVID - Boston.com (September 21, 2020)

Guide to 2020 fall festivities in Boston and beyond - The Daily Free Press (September 21, 2020)

Spooky Season still on? What we know about Halloween 2020 - The Ten on NECN (September 19, 2020)

Candy or Covid? Some Places Are Canceling Halloween - Bloomberg CityLab (September 18, 2020)

Will There Or Won’t There Be A Halloween in Salem, MA This October? - AMSSVS (September 17, 2020)

Salem mayor on tourism: Fewer crowds, won’t be ‘ghost town' - Fox 25 (September 16, 2020)

Destination Salem launches guide as smartphone app - The Salem News (September 8, 2020)

America’s fall destinations will have to balance coronavirus safety with a tourism comeback - The Washington Post (August 26, 2020)

What Scares Salem? October Without Halloween - The New York Times (August 13, 2020)

4 Best Day Trips From Boston - Conde Nast Traveler (June 23, 2020)

Perfect Weekend in Salem, Massachusetts - Weekends with Yankee (May 21, 2020)

Goth travel guide to Salem, MA! - La Carmina (December 13, 2019)

Hex Appeal - Cara by Aer Lingus (October/November 2019)

Witchy Wellness - N by Norwegian (October 2019)

Salem, Massachusetts Travel Guide - Marie Claire (October 2019)

Backstory - WGNTV Chicago (October 2019)

Foodie Travel Guide to Salem, MA - Cooking with Books (April 2019)

Photo Galleries

High resolution images and B-roll are available on request. Please email Kate Fox for Dropbox links.