LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The state's travel promotion agency says its "Pure Michigan" ad campaign is paying off.  Travel Michigan head George Zimmermann says the campaign has been twice as successful as its predecessor in drawing visitors from three out-of-state markets.

 

The state ran a campaign called "Great Lakes, Great Times" in 2006. Studies show it attracted half a million visits from the Chicago, Indianapolis and Cleveland areas. But Zimmermann credits the "Pure Michigan" campaign with attracting about 1 million visits from those three markets last year.

 

A Michigan State University study predicts the number of visitors to Michigan will drop 2 percent this year, thanks in part to a soft economy and soaring gas prices.