While sticker shock at the gas pump is expected to put a dent in some summer travel plans, those high gas prices actually could end up helping Ohio's summer tourism industry.

Because gas prices are so high, vacationers are expected to travel shorter distances and that means Buckeyes, as well as people from neighboring states, may be pumping their money back into Ohio businesses.

"For Ohio, most of our visitors come from within 300 miles anyway," said Amir Eylon, the state's tourism director.

He said it's too early to speculate on how successful the summer travel season will be in Ohio, but noted that he's "cautiously optimistic."

"Anecdotally, we are hearing from representatives out there that folks are not canceling their plans to travel, just changing them," said Eylon.

Still, even though travelers may be staying closer to home that doesn't necessarily mean they'll be spending a lot of money. Many are expected to cut back on their spending by eating at cheaper restaurants or buying fewer souvenirs.

"People are still going to travel and you need to get away. It's what Americans do. But they might eat at fast-food restaurants more instead of (sit-down) restaurants," said Eylon. "Or if one hotel includes a free breakfast, that may be the deciding factor for a family."

Free breakfast is just one way families can cut costs on their summer trips, according to a new report from travel Web site Travelocity.

"Travelers seem relatively undeterred, although their strategy appears to have changed. Now travelers are booking more packages, seeking value-driven buys and considering drive destinations or home-port cruise vacations as further ways to save. Many travelers are also opting to cut their vacations short, which is still another way to save this summer," the report noted.

Eylon said shorter trips are not only the result of higher gas and food prices, but also are part of a longer, larger cultural trend in the United States.

"Instead of taking one- or two-week long vacations like the old days, now it's more of a series of short getaways," he said.

That could bode well for Ohio tourism destinations such as Cedar Point, where vacationers may opt to drive a couple of hours to an amusement park rather than spend the money and time required for a trip to Florida, Myrtle Beach or other far-reaching destinations.

Eylon said the state's tourism industry had been doing well in recent years.

"In 1999 and 2000 it was very strong, then you had (Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks). But in the last three or four years, we've seen a pretty good recovery," he said.

Next week the Ohio Department of Development's tourism division will unveil its annual ad campaign designed to attract travelers to Ohio destinations.

There also will be a rally for state tourism at the statehouse in Columbus that is expected to include 70 interactive experiences and displays from the state's tourism industry. The rally is scheduled for Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the statehouse's west lawn.

"This isn't going to be just a bunch of brochures or hand-outs. It's going to be very experiential," said Eylon.

One of the top new attractions expected to lure vacationers in Ohio is the new Zoombezi Bay waterpark at the Columbus Zoo.

On the site of the former Wyandot Lake waterpark, the new 22-acre park has 15 water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river and other amusements. The new park is expected to open later this month.

In the northern part of the state, Cedar Point in Sandusky has added a new ride called the Skyscraper and a new children's area called Planet Snoopy.

In addition, an exhibit on artifacts from the Vatican is scheduled for a stop in Cleveland, one of only a few cities the exhibit is visiting.

The state's tourism division claims visitors spent $33.7 billion in Ohio in 2006. Figures for last year are expected to be released next week.