HARTFORD, Conn. -- Operators of several Connecticut tourist destinations said attendance was flat or slightly down this summer, despite the state's campaign encouraging residents to visit the local attractions.

However, advocates of the state's "Staycation" initiative said they consider it successful, citing calls, e-mails and other anecdotal evidence from vacationers. Some business owners also said their attendance could have dropped sharply if Staycation-influenced visitors hadn't helped keep the figures even with previous years.

Announced in early July to promote in-state vacations during the economic crunch, the "Staycation Destination Program" ran through Labor Day. It included online listings of more than 400 attractions in Connecticut along with discounts and package deals.

The Mystic Coast & Country Travel Industry Association said business had increased 0.08 percent in July and 2.4 percent since January. That's good news, association president Chris Jennings said.

"Flat is up in this day and age," Jennings said. "Considering other destinations are having fewer visitors, we feel we're doing pretty well."

Some attractions, including the Mark Twain House in Hartford, reported a slight drop or no noticeable change in attendance this summer compared with past years.

Others have seen increases. Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, for example, reported an increase in business in July and August after a slower May and June.

Representatives of other venues, such as the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, the Dutch Iris Inn in Granby and the Litchfield Jazz Festival, said they've seen modest increases over the summer.

The figures are mixed at some state beaches, according to state figures.

The number of visitors dropped from 599,505 in June and July 2007 last year to 466,265 in the same period this year at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. However, visits to Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme increased from 201,418 to 212,100 during the same time frame.

The effect of the Staycation effort on summer tourism is difficult to gauge because sites track data differently, said John Bourget, who runs Witan Intelligence Strategies, a private marketing and consulting firm in Avon.

Some tourist destinations, such as the Mark Twain House, ask for a ZIP code, while the state Department of Environmental Protection doesn't track the homes of visitors to state parks and beaches.

Mark Twain House, which has been offering $2 off the adult ticket price and $1 off the senior price, saw a slight drop in summer visitation, said Rebecca Floyd, manager of interpreter services.

"A lot of people who came here in July weren't coming here because of the discount," Floyd said. "They came here anyway and found out, 'Oh, I live in Connecticut; I get a discount."'

On a recent day at Mystic Aquarium, Karen Mangiacotti was corralling her four children for the ride home after a day of watching Beluga whales. In a better economy, she said, she would have planned more trips to Boston, Vermont or New York City.

"That's a lot of travel time, and then you're spending more time and money on traveling and not as much time hanging out," Mangiacotti said. "We will try to stay local and keep the big exotic vacations for the winter."