• §to help Maine people improve their lives…

• §through an educational process that

• uses research based knowledge...

• §focused on key issues and opportunities of interest to the  public…
  UMCE…community serving…public

2. Presentation Purposes

§

• Stimulate thought and discussion

• §Create awareness of “smart tourism”

• §Frame tourism economic development

• §Highlight tourism niches & markets

• §Address business considerations

• §Clarify community roles

• Frame steps and tools for planning

3. A Key Consumption

   “Community tourism assessment and development does not begin with the assumption that tourism is good for you…rather, it begins with the notion that tourism may be good for you.”
   
   Montana State University, Community Tourism Handbook 
    

4.  Smart vs. Numb Tourism

   • Planned Tourism  vs. No Plan or Strategy

   • Niche Experience vs. Lure’em All In

   • Ongoing Tourism vs. Lean Times Only

   • Managed Tourism vs. Whatever Happens

   Each of these approaches are:  Community choices… with consequences for Community
    

5.  Tourism Economic Development

   Inventory-Evaluation-Management-Protection (nature, local culture, heritage, community) ASSETS
   BUSINESS Expansion & Creation (business support)	COMMUNITY Planning & Development  (decisions-direction)

    

6. Tourism Assets

   • §People-Features-Sites-Events-Uniqueness

   • §General Categories: local culture, heritage, artisans, nature, outdoor recreation, forests & forest heritage, open space & agriculture,  industry, songs and storytellers, authentic rural life happenings, real people...

   • Tourism Assets are niches for types of visitor experiences; each tourism he also has niche customer markets.

7. Cultural Heritage -- Nature Ecotourism

   Cultural Heritage §	Nature Ecotourism
   Experience local culture, arts, rural life, history, songs and stories, town and county celebrations, heritage trails, festivals, enjoy and appreciate the authentic, unique character of people and place. TIAA Profile: older, likely retired, educated, children not likely, couple travel, some groups, multi-destination trips, b&b’s, motels, hotels. §	§Experience explore, connect, learn about nature, conservation of the natural world, appreciate natural beauty, leave-no-trace ethics, high value - low impact, of benefit to community. TIAA Profile: all ages, 25-54 likely, educated m/f couples 1/3rd with children, life long learners, summer tours, 40% willing to invest up to $1500 per person, high amenity oriented. §

    

8. Soft and Hard Adventure

   Soft Adventure on road biking, easy hikes, photo safaris, wildlife tours,on- site camping, canoe and kayak, birding,sailing	Hard Adventure off road mountain biking, rock climbing, back-packing, white water canoe-kayak-rafting, higher risk adventure
   Profile: Who Are They? younger-middle-older? couples-families-groups? what do they expect and need? how to connect with them with them?

    

9. Forest Heritage -- Agritourism

   Forest Heritage §	Agritourism
   A very rich heritage theme for the Maine Woods… woodlot tours, old and unique forests, wildflower walks, fire towers-cabins-trails, old tote roads and river-drives, towns that disappeared, mushrooms, botanicals, woods lore-skills, logging & sawmills, campfire stories-poetry-songs, forest & logging festivals, all season possibilities...	§ You may have what it takes for agritourism if... You like to meet people. Like to entertain strangers. Can give up privacy at home and on the farm. Can be cheerful-helpful with guests always. Can keep home-farm-guest facilities neat and clean. Are successful at planning, managing farm and home. Can keep home-farm-guest facilities neat & clean. Are successful at planning, managing farm & home.

   
    

10. Tourism and Business

    • §Tourism is an economic engine for local, small businesses. 

    • What is your communities structure of support for these businesses?

    • Tourism enhances community quality of life, a positive pull-factor for other economic development opportunities. 

    • §High quality hospitality and customer service rules everywhere, all the time!

11. Micro Home-Based Business and Tourism

    • 1,762 micro-hbb provide 2,146 pt/ft jobs, 25% of Piscataquis County employment   (UMCE, 00’)

    • Piscataquis micro-hbb produce $107 million worth of goods and services   (UM REP, 01’)

    • 43% of 395 micro-hbb interviewed are in key tourism business categories  (EMDC-CHET, 00’)

    • This represents highly dispersed small business economic activity that is closely associated with tourism activity.

12. To Plan and Direct, or Not

    “Raising the tourism flag and setting the community sails with no agreed to plan and direction, is like sailing out of harbor without a map and compass…unplanned tourism is an invitation to go in circles, at worse running aground many leagues out on the reef of unwanted changes for a community.”           

                          Roger Merchant, Extension Educator
    University of Maine Cooperative Extension
     

13. Tourism Planning and Tools
         Illinois Cooperative Extension

    1. Organize Tourism Action Committee

    2. Establish planning and timeline

    3. Inventory tourism assets & resources

    4. Conduct a SWOT Analysis of Assets

    5. Establish goals, objectives, actions

    6. Develop a niche marketing strategy

    7. Track, measure and manage progress

       
       go to uiuc “tourism toolbox”: www.communitydevelopment.uiuc.edu/tourism/

14. Community Roles

    • §Organization, leadership, ongoing commitment.

    • Inventory, evaluate, manage, protect assets.

    • Discuss community values and attitudes.

    • Decide & manage what to share and market. 

    • Link into county-region-state tourism networks.

    • Evaluate for ongoing quality assurance, manage for real sustainable quality of life…

    • Be authentic, avoid copy-cat, capitalize on unique.
      
      Always: Hospitality-Customer Service-Information