To be sure, the bright lights and holiday decorations in cities like New York, Boston and Chicago have long lured vacationers at Christmas time.

But Libyan officials, buoyed by the success Tunisia has had in bringing in Germans and Italian groups, say they are determined to lure vacationers.

As the hotel's financial problems mounted, it seemed to have trouble maintaining the standard of luxury that lured vacationers and conventioneers.

In recent weeks, airlines have expanded their summer schedules, both domestically and internationally, hoping to lure vacationers.

With Atlantic City's comp guests and day-trippers largely gone for good, Revel hopes to lure regional conferences and wealthy, younger vacationers.

In addition, most of the new courses are private, doing little to lure vacationers who could help the ski-town hotels fill rooms in the summer and fall.

And many hotels are putting out a bigger welcome mat for children - from organized outings to childproof rooms - to lure business travelers as well as vacationers.

Some environmentalists and tourism operators worry that this fevered pursuit of tourist dollars will damage the very scenery, wildlife and solitude that lure vacationers.

And as Lee Howard, executive vice president of Airline Economics Inc., notes, they are eager to reduce the percentage of business travelers who take advantage of discounts meant to lure vacationers.

So major steps have been taken to recover, and the changes that await skiers and snowboarders on Nov. 20, when the slopes open, are designed to lure vacationers back and keep them coming.