Rural Tourism

"The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) authorized the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) to provide funding for programs and projects defined as transportation alternatives, including on- and off-road pedestrian and bicycle facilities, infrastructure projects for improving non-driver access to public transportation and enhanced mobility, community improvement activities, and environmental mitigation; recreational trail projects; safe routes to school projects; and projects for planning, designing, or constructing boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former divided highways."

• Guidance and Information
• Funding
• Tools and Resouces

"Partners in Tourism" website with 15 Federal partners listed.  "Our Mission is to provide a platform for Cultural Heritage and Destination Tourism Professionals to Connect and Share Info on."   Provides "Best Practices – Research & Statistics – Toolkits – Technical & Funding Assistance – Events – Workshops & News"

"Tourism development can be an important part of a community's strategy for building a sustainable economic future. Many Appalachian communities have developed successful tourism strategies based on the Region's cultural heritage, history, and natural beauty."

Provides "relevant information, useful resources, and networking opportunities for Extension professionals and others working in the broad area of tourism and recreation."

"A collaboration of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota Extension, we harness the power of our research for the benefit of the Minnesota tourism industry and beyond. Center affiliates work with industry leaders to develop new or evolve existing ideas to improve marketing, management, and operational practices. Hear about our work in our video 'Tourism in Minnesota: Ideas at Play'! Communities use research, education, and collaboration to decide how to diversify their economies through tourism."

The goal of this office is "to enhance the international competitiveness of the U.S. travel and tourism industry and increase its exports, thereby creating U.S. employment and economic growth."