Raising the tourism flag and setting the community sails with no agreed to plan and direction, is exactly like setting sail without map and compass…where unplanned tourism becomes an invitation to going in circles, at worse, blindly running aground many leagues out on the reef of unwanted changes for a community.
Extension tourism professionals recognize that careful tourism assessment and planning, informs local choices about tourism, as well as how a community has to manage and protect its’ tourism asset opportunities.
“Planning is necessary for tourism to develop in ways that
are beneficial, sustainable and not detrimental to the
environment, culture and community”
(Minnesota
Extension Tourism Center
Community tourism planning begins with the assumption that tourism may be good for you, and not with the notion that tourism is good for you.
(Community Tourism Montana State)
Tourism connects all aspects of community – environment, businesses, residents, services, commerce, communication, hospitality, information. Tourism is complex and requires a commitment to ongoing organization, leadership, marketing, networking and evaluation.
These links will help your community see its role in shaping and directing tourism options.
Links to Tools and Resources:
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Community Tourism
PowerPoint Slide Show
This 17 slide presentation will provide you a basic overview of community tourism development and the key steps in planning for tourism.
Community Tourism Slide Show (HTML version) - Fact Sheets:
Online fact sheets on community tourism planning and development, as well as links to relevant information at other sites. - 68 Questions and Answers on Tourism
Development:
University of Minnesota Extension Tourism Center has developed an information base about 68 key questions that often come up for communities, leaders and organizations thinking about tourism. - Planning Tools for Community Tourism:
Links to research and planning tools for communities and counties that are looking at community and economic development options based on tourism. Included in this is a link to the University of Illinois Extension -Tourism Development Toolbox.