Q&A About Rural Tourism Development

Based on Audience Questions from the Turn it Around with Tourism Teleconference

Compiled by:

Barbara Koth,
Glenn Kreag and
Matthew Robinson -
Tourism Center
University of Minnesota

The Authors:

Barbara Koth is an extension educator with the University of Minnesota Tourism Center, Minnesota Extension Service, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Glenn Kreag is an extension educator with the Universtiy of Minnesota Tourism Center, Minnesota Extension Service, Duluth, Minnesota

Matthew Robinson is a research assistant with the university of Minnesota Tourism Center, Minnesota Extension Service, St. Paul, Minnesota

Table of Contents

Introduction

Community Involvement

  • Community Relations
  • People Resources: Retirees, Volunteers, Employees

Politics and Tourism

  • Local Officials
  • State Legislators
  • Accountability

Community Tourism Planning and Development

  • Organizing
  • Community Values
  • Planning
  • Environment and Tourism

Tourism Attractions

  • Optimizing Existing Attractions
  • Agricultural Attractions
  • Developing New Attractions
  • Legal Considerations

Tourism Businesses and Services

  • Getting Support from the Business Sector
  • Improving the Visitor Experience
  • Choosing the Right Businesses
  • Entertainment Businesses
  • Lodging Enterprises

Tourism Funding

  • Tourism Taxes
  • Getting Funding

Tourism Marketing

  • Developing a Marketing Plan
  • Getting and Using Data
  • Marketing Methods: Direct Mail Advertising, Brochures, Mass Media, Billboards, Word of Mouth
  • Community Collaboration

Introduction

As part of its involvement with a national project on rural tourism, the University of Minnesota's Tourism Center developed an educational package and produced a national teleconference on rural tourism development, Turn It Around With Tourism. This teleconference provided an opportunity for people across the country to learn about rural tourism development and ask questions about issues and problems they faced in their communities. There were over one hundred questions, most of which could not be answered on the air. From feedback and fieldwork, we have found that the same questions that came up repeatedly at the teleconference continue to be the key tourism development issues at the community level today.

This book is a compilation of questions generated by that teleconference, and tourism industry professionals' answers to them. The 60 expert contributors are from universities, small towns, businesses, trade associations, and federal agencies, or are private consultants. The contributors are located throughout the United States, Canada, and England, and were selected based on referrals from the project planning committee and attempts to match topic and expertise. The 68 questions in this book have been divided into seven sections:

  1. Community Involvement
  2. Politics and Tourism
  3. Community Tourism Planning and Development
  4. Attractions
  5. Businesses and Services
  6. Funding
  7. Marketing

Where possible, the sources of questions have been identified, and often multiple authors provide varying perspectives on possible strategies for success. There are no easy answers and the responses aren't always flashy, but they come from viewpoints shaped by time in the trenches using techniques that work. Use the book for learning new ideas, as a starting point, or to reinforce your plans, but fit ideas to your own situation and circumstances. The ideas that work best will be those that are tailored to meet your needs. Others with experience, such as those who have written answers in this book, can be resources when you need help.

As you read the questions and answers, you will begin to find many related responses. Because the linkages in tourism development are strong, the more you understand about the overall tourism industry, the easier the individual components become. We hope this book stimulates your thinking and creativity and helps your efforts be successful.

Editor: Phyllis Jenks
Graphic Designer: Nancy Goodman

Sponsors:

Partial funding provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration's Technical Assistance Program and the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development.