Guidelines for Community Tourism Development

1. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Brought to you by the

2. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Introduction • Check out our website at: www.dced.state.ak.us/tourism/guideline.htm • Tourism development guidelines are designed to help you decide: • whether tourism could work in your community • how to start making tourism work for you • Also on the website are: • names and addresses of groups to contact for financial of technical help • sample tourism development plans • checklist for tourism development

3. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development • Is Tourism for You? • The entire community must be willing to work together to make tourism a success • Don’t expect miracles • Lack of restrooms or places to eat and sleep for example,may become major problems • Weigh the good and the bad • Involve the whole community! • Conduct survey or holdtown meetings

4. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development • Pros • • New jobs • • Expanded economy • • Clean industry • • Investment opportunities • • Community pride • • New public facilities • • Boosts local businesses • • Promotes variety • • May preserve heritage/culture • Education and training

5. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development • Cons • Seasonal jobs, timing • • Congestion • • Disruptions or noise • • No guarantees • • Lifestyle changes • • Higher taxes/fees • • Seasonal markets • • Social change • • Maintenance costs

6. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Community Guidelines ECONOMIC Tourism should create jobs and income for local residents and maximize the income that remains in the community to benefit residents; SUBSISTENCE Tourism should not conflict with residents’use of subsistence resources; SOCIAL Tourism should be controlled tominimize impact on the presentway of life; CULTURAL Tourism should emphasize respectfor culture and history; ENVIRONMENTAL Tourism should maintain or enhanceenvironmental quality.

7. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development The Community Must be Supportive • Establish clear guidelines to help insure full support of the tourism effort. • Guidelines can be so strict that no tourism development is possible. • Tourism development may not be possible. • Proceed with the process when you are sure the community sincerely wants to be a part of the effort.

8. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Rural Tourism Tourism may represent an opportunity to broaden a community’s economic base, not by replacing other businesses, but by adding to the number of businesses and jobs.

9. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Who Should be Involved? • Willing and interested people, and • People with some experience, interest, or knowledge of tourism. • Tourism development needs leadership. • Leadership needs support.

10. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Five A’s of Successful Tourism Development 1. Attitude 2. Access 3. Accommodations 4. Attractions 5. Advertising

11. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Attitude Make Visitors Feel Welcome Provide Visitor Information Invite Visitors Back

12. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Access Frequency of access is less important than dependability.Visitors will come if they are sure about the schedule Use traditional access.Don’t assume that visitors are not interested in traditional access, such as riverboat or small plane Include people with disabilities in your access decisions.

13. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Accommodations Visitors need a place to sleepEven boats have been used for visitor accommodations. In the more remote locations, visitors will be satisfied, and in many instances expect, rustic settings as long as they are clean and well-managed. Visitors need a place to eatCafé, restaurant, school, B&B, highlight local or Alaska specialties. Visitors need restrooms If possible, provide restrooms, bathing facilities, and accommodations that are accessible to people with disabilities. Visitors need local transportationTo and from airport, ferry terminal, or dock, between lodging and shopping, and from one attraction to another. All means of transport are acceptable as long as they are safe, dependable, and reasonably priced.

14. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Attractions • The most successful attractions are rooted in local history, geography and lore; they are authentic • Scenic Beauty • Recreation • Wildlife • Natural Phenomena • Historical Interest • Cultural Interest • Special Events • Community Character

15. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Improve Your Local Attractions • Provide Better Access • Include Visitor Information • Put Up Signs • Allow Guided Tours • Add Interpretation

16. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Advertising Promote Your Community Identity There are Many Ways to AdvertiseBrochures, Magazines, Newspapers, Television, Travel Agents, Airlines, and Cruise and Tour Companies Business AdvertisingCooperative marketing withlocal businesses Bundle your CommunityAttraction as Part of aLarger Tour or Package

17. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development What Kind of People Visit Alaska? • Summer visitors to Alaska (80% of the annual visitors) are, for the most part, well-educated, married, have high-income managerial or professional careers, are slightly under 50 years old, and are most likely to come from the: • west coast, • southeast and, • midwest areas of the United States. • They will stay for about a week and a half, over half will be independent travelers while the others will be traveling on an organized tour or cruise ship.

18. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Package Tour • A prearranged and prepaid trip that includes transportation, t lodging, and other services necessary for visitor enjoyment. • Can Your Community be Included in a Package Tour? • Airlines • Ferry • Camping • Camper/RV/Personal Vehicle • Fishing/Hunting • Winter Visitors • Miscellaneous Outdoors • Business Travelers • Cultural or other Events

19. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development How theOrganizedTourIndustryWorks

20. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development The Industry in Alaska In Alaska, tourism marketing has traditionally been directed towards visitors from other states and countries. However, as the state’s population grows, people who live in one area of the state have begun to travel to other parts of the state for business, recreation and vacation travel. Today, anycommunity wishing to promotetourism should seriouslyconsider marketing to theirAlaska neighbors, who areeager to see otherareas of the state.

21. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Hospitality is the Key •Good directional signs • Literature printed in an easy to read format and foreign languages, if needed • Clean restrooms • Handicap accessibility • Convenient hours of local stores and shops • A visitor information center • Developed local attractions that are easy to find • Public telephones, park benches, flower beds, and planters • Walking tours and signs on buildings and other attractions

22. Guidelines for Community Tourism Development Assistance ALASKA DIVISION OF TOURISM P.O. Box 110801Juneau, AK 99811-0801 (907) 465-2012(907) 465-3767 FAX Email: GoNorth@dced.state.ak.us Website: http://www.dced.state.ak.us/tourism/ There are a number of organizations and agencies who can provide assistance for rural tourism development. Contact the Division of Tourism for more information.