RURAL TOURISM

TOURISM VS ATTRACTION
Low cost (thousands) Immediate impact Low infrastructure needs Helps existing businesses Tourism is a high growth industry Non-polluting High cost (millions) Decades before impact High infrastructure needs Dependent on outside businesses coming in Manufacturing industry is shrinking Many are polluters

CONTEXT
50% of residents arent HS graduates 24% live below poverty line 31% of children below poverty line Oldest population in nation Pick your statistic

TOURISM CHALLENGES
Lack of tourism infrastructure Lack of amenities Lack of entertainment Remote location Attitude about the area Not enough things for people to see and do Undeveloped tourism sites

TOURISM ASSETS
HISTORY
Hatfield McCoy Feud Matewan Massacre & Mine Wars Labor History Coal History Railroad History Ancient History & Geology

OTHER TOURISM ASSETS

Scenery Country Atmosphere Mountains Road Access People

1999
Zero Tourism

2000
Hatfield Cemetery Walking Tour Hatfield McCoy Driving Tour 1st Hatfield McCoy Reunion Festival Matewan Massacre Re-enactment (play) Terror of the Tug/Smilin Sid (film) Hatfield McCoy Trails open Moonshine Hill Climb

2001
Previous Activities Continue Delbarton Jamboree Begins First Hatfield McCoy Bus Tour The Devil and Ranel McCoy (play) Hatfield McCoy Trails Research

2002-2003
Previous activities continue Feud film completed Tourism Investment Fund created Matewan Depot Museum completed Delbarton Opry House completed Hatfield McCoy Reunion Festival brings in over $100,000

2004
Previous activities continue Mine Wars film completed WV/KY Feud development partnership Hatfield McCoy Feud sites upgraded Fairs and Festivals impact project Hatfield McCoy Reunion Festival brings in over $200,000 Mamie Thurman play begun

Moonshine Hill Climb

AMA Sanctioned ESPN Coverage 1 Pro & 3 Amateur Races Each Year Set national records for riders in 2001-04 Site of 2002-04 National Amateur Championships

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY

ID tourism assets & options Choose a tourism asset to develop SWOT your tourism activity Develop a strategy for overcoming challenges Create a strategy for developing the activity

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT METHODOLOGY

Define your market Develop a marketing strategy Resource development (People, money, skills, infrastructure etc) Build community support Rinse and repeat JUST DO IT

LESSONS LEARNED
Dont complain about what you dont have. Focus on what you do have. Success breeds success. Think Big. Start Small. It will probably take longer than you think. Prioritize. Community participation is vital. You dont need everybody, just the right bodies.

QUALITY CONTROL
HIRE EXPERIENCE HIRE PRACTICIONERS NOT JUST EXPERTS GET WORK SAMPLES GET REFERENCES RFPs

Request For Proposals

Defined
RFPs are a formal invitation to submit a written proposal that meets your requirements for a project.

RFP BENEFITS
Increases odds youll get what you want Helps organize your thoughts Lets you see a vendors work ahead of time You find out if vendors can meet deadlines You find out if vendors do their homework RFPs may give you new ideas Poor RFP may indicate poor work

OTHER BENEFITS
You spell out your requirements ahead of time and you dont have to pay the vendor till they arent met. (Staged payments, changes by mutual consent) Creates milestones so you dont just get a final product at the end that you may not like.

AN RFP FORMAT
Information from the Vendor
Detailed narrative description of what they plan to do and how they will meet your needs. Drawings, plans, synopses etc. Work samples List prior applicable experience & contact info List of applicable references

RFP FORMAT CONT.

Information to the Vendor
Description of problem or need List of your constraints & requirements List of reference resources Pictures, schematics, source documents Deadlines (for submission and award) Payment amount Your contact info

DOWNSIDE
Requires work on front end You may have to pay a bit more You have to do what you say youll do

FIND YOUR ASSETS