Tourism Development Initiatives

Agreed-upon Fulton County Tourism Development Initiatives

These nine initiatives have their origins in discussions among delegates to Session I of the Fulton County Tourism Summit (January 2004). Over 40 delegates from at least 40 organizations participated. The initiatives, as they appear below, were endorsed by Tourism Summit delegates during Session II of the summit process (May 2004). These are the agreed-upon "things we should be doing" to improve Fulton County's competitiveness as a tourism destination and to increase the local economic benefits from tourism.

#1 Developing and maintaining effective organization, cooperation, leadership

Possible projects under this initiative (from Session I discussion):

• Organize group to take responsibility
• Form a network for collaboration
• Create (umbrella) organization to coordinate and communicate Fulton County activity.
• Create a coalition of visionary leaders, staff and volunteers. Core group
• Get government & business leaders on board
• Committed leadership
• Pursue tourism director

#2 Developing a shared vision for tourism development in Fulton County

#3 Inventory tourism attractions, opportunities, and resources

Possible projects under this initiative (from Session I discussion):

• Inventory of existing assets-database
• Develop inventory & promote existing attractions (Top 5-10?)
• Inventory the players
• Inventory sites & services
• Develop inventory of "Fee based" and "Open to Public" fishing & hunting opportunities
• Inventory activities and sites. Relate them. How do we promote?
• Inventory
• Identify the things in Fulton Col that makes us interesting (nature, historic sites, business, etc.)
• Identify needs/weaknesses
• Inventory A. have B. have not

#4 Acquiring funding to support tourism development projects

Possible projects under this initiative:

• Develop revenue sources
• Identify funding sources for marketing and development.

#5 Providing training for tourism businesses and employees

Possible projects under this initiative:

• Small business training and consulting
• Hospitality training-programs, certificates, outfitters, guides, promotion & showmanship

#6 Monitoring and evaluating the success of our efforts

Possible projects under this initiative:

• Answer the question: How do we measure it?"
• Measure & celebrate success.

#7 Educating and raising awareness regarding tourism assets, value, and importance

Possible projects under this initiative:

• Educate Fulton County people about Fulton County. Schools? Day trips?
• Educate first
• Internal awareness & communication & education
• Communicate these steps to the public (get their support)-collaborate, coordinate, communicate
• Help public be promoters & ambassadors of Fulton Co. (need to see value of tourism)
• Solicit school support/involvement in teaching K-12 about Fulton/Mason culture/history/places
• Promote value of tourism in Fulton County
• Educate & involve community to foster "ownership".
• Get government & business leaders on board

#8 Development of tourism attractions and opportunities

Possible projects under this initiative:

• Develop activities that last longer-connect several communities-sustained activity-not one little event once in awhile.
• Lodging
• Study (identify) successful projects (events) and build on that.
• Identify & take advantage of existing programs (gov. or otherwise) to develop & promote tourism.
• Also bring back good ideas when you travel.
• Improve access
• Improve access to natural resources.
• Resource access

#9 Develop effective promotion and marketing of our visitor attractions and opportunities

Possible projects under this initiative:

• Improve signage (w/maps)
• Communicate & coordinate calendar of events
• Coord. Marketing & advertisement.
• Web site development
• Fulton/Mason Country tour Establish a collection point(s) for hunting and fishing records & human interest stories
• Inventory activities and sites. Relate them. How do we promote?
• Package ideas of things to do according to themes in order to promote>market to specific groups.
• Create a series of maps/brochures/events designed to be marketed to specific potential tourists
• Promotion
• Familiarization tour
• Nurture partnerships and create packages.
• Lean on PACVB