Ithaca Area Economic Development’s Post

Nothing compares to rural Appalachia! That’s why we invest in projects that boost the burgeoning rural tourism industry across the region. 🌄 Today we awarded more than $485K to help West Virginia University develop a plan for the Rural Tourism Institute in Central Appalachia. WVU will partner with land-grant universities, regional rural development centers and community partners in Kentucky, North Carolina and West Virginia to plan for: 🎓 The industry's first Rural Tourism Executive Certification program 🔍 A research-focused Rural Tourism Lab 📞 An industry- and region-specific Rural Tourism Peer Network To date, we've invested $71.3M of ARISE funds in 29 multi-state projects like this one. Explore the impact https://lnkd.in/eFns7qC8

I know her.... nice article on Jessica and Tourism Cares.

🌲 Exciting news! 🌲 4VI is evolving its social enterprise model to include its tourism non-profit, a charitable giving directive, and a for-profit corporation, all forming the 4VI Group. “This is an exciting day for the 4VI Group. After successfully shifting our governance and delivery model to a social enterprise in April 2022, we continue our path towards the expansion of our services and define a new way to give back,” said Janet Docherty, Board Chair, 4VI Group. “We were also methodical in our planning for this new evolution, ensuring that we met the needs of our long-standing relationships and our future work beyond Vancouver Island. I couldn’t be more proud.” 4TVI, the long-standing regional organization, will continue to operate as a non-profit corporation that supports the needs of communities and tourism businesses through government-funded work in the Vancouver Island Region. This organization will continue to work directly with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, Destination British Columbia, Indigenous Tourism BC, the BC Regional Tourism Secretariat, destination management organizations, and other community contributors to steward the region. Launching alongside its two partners, 4EVER Strategies Inc. is a for-profit corporation that delivers sustainability, storytelling, and strategy services for its clients. The corporation was conceived through a series of dialogues with current and potential clients, partners, First Nations, and the 4VI Group Board of Directors. 4EVER will include community clients such as Tourism Cowichan and Tourism Ucluelet in the Vancouver Island Region. As part of the 4VI Group, 4GOOD, the new charitable giving directive, further aligns to the mission of ensuring that travel remains a force for good for Vancouver Island – forever. 4GOOD will continue to build toward the 4VI Group’s 2030 goal of contributing $10 million back to the residents of the Vancouver Island Region. The directive will function to monitor, measure, and distribute contributions while increasing opportunities for partnerships and growth. Learn more at forvi.ca. #bctourism #vancouverisland Destination British Columbia Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC)

TRC Tourism are excited to be working with East Gippsland Shire Council to development the Cann River Walking Track Masterplan! 🌲🚶♂️This project focuses on auditing and assessing the current walking trail network in Cann River, which has been heavily impacted by the 2019/2020 bushfires and subsequent years of rain and floods. Key Goals: 🌟 Community Well-being: Enhancing the trails to boost local well-being. 🌟 Tourism Boost: Encouraging longer stays in Cann River for visitors traveling between Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, and the Snowy Mountains. During a 3-day site visit, we engaged in valuable consultations with stakeholders, including the East Gippsland Shire Council, Cann Valley District Representative Group (CVDRG), DEECA, Parks VIC, local community members, and business operators. These interactions provided clarity and greatly assisted in the thorough review and audit of the current and potential trails. The masterplan will serve as: 📋 A reference document for future trail network management. 💰 A source of funding for necessary works. #CannRiver #CommunityWellbeing #Tourism #BushfireRecovery #TrailRevitalisation

A new study suggests replacing the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) with a Destination Stewardship Organization (DSO) to better manage tourism. The recommendation comes as HTA's structure has been under scrutiny, with calls for change to ensure tourism benefits local communities and the environment. The proposed DSO would operate as a nonprofit, fostering collaboration between local communities, the government, and the tourism industry. Key suggestions include creating a stewardship liaison in the Governor’s Office, forming Island Destination Stewardship Councils, and ensuring transparent use of tourism taxes. The goal is to establish a "community-first" approach that balances tourism with local priorities. This recommendation aims to regain stakeholder confidence and address over-tourism concerns. For more details, visit https://lnkd.in/gNCqz88M. #HawaiiHotelAlliance #HTA #HawaiiTourism #CommunityFirst

MBIE's consulting on the $35 International Visitor Conservation & Tourism Levy that currently brings in approx $80m a year. Even a modest increase could have a big impact on Aotearoa's ability to protect the environment that attracts visitors here and provide fit for purpose infrastructure. Nudging the $35 per person levy up to $50 could net up to an extra $47m a year. Have a read and have your say. https://lnkd.in/grNk3z8m

𝐖𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐭! 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 😛 Devonport has taken gold on the national stage just, snagging the title of Australia's Top Tourism Town for 2024! It's definitely a very promising picture for the future of the region. Here's why: ▪️ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺: As the "vibrant hub" for the iconic Cradle Mountain region, Devonport is poised to see a surge in tourist activity. This translates to strong rental yields for savvy property investors. ▪️ 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: Devonport offers a welcoming and family-friendly environment, making it an attractive destination for tourists and residents alike. This balanced growth fosters stability – a key factor for reliable long-term investments. ▪️ 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁: Compared to other popular Aussie tourist destinations, Devonport offers a lower entry for investors looking to capitalise on the boom. Intrigued by the potential? RPD has a range of exciting real estate options available in Devonport and Sheffield. #devonport #tasmania #tourism #realestate #cradlemountain #mumanddadinvestors

We think partnerships are key to the success of nature positive tourism, regardless of whether the business is complementary or competing. What do you think? Can people and businesses thrive together, with a common vision to restore and protect nature? #Partnerships #PartneringForTheGoals #NatureBasedTourism #NaturePositive #TourismTraining #NatureTraining #Regenerativetourism #WildlifeTourism #Rewilding

Collecting a visitor levy is useful, but the government is focused on incoming and this becomes tricky as NZ citizens, residents and Aussie citizens and residents are not charged. Together they form the largest passenger movement in and out of the country. To collect from everyone , the term "IVL" has to be changed and charged as part of the departure cost just as the Australian PMC. What is more important is how this money is utilized. Customs and immigration possess clear data on who is international and who is domestic. All international traveller levies can be disbursed toward tourism-impacted and tourism-based funding. The rest can be used for local projects not impacted by inbound tourism. And like Eve Lawrence and Chris Roberts have pointed out, there must be complete transparency in where the money is being spent and the quantifiable outcomes from such spending. MBIE has trouble understanding matters of Tourism, especially inbound tourism and the ecosystem it supports. As for the IVL , I think it should be doubled to $70 and if collected on the outflow movement, we could be looking at upwards of $245 M that can be used for tourism-impacted and tourism-based projects.

Now and then we have moments that we know will resonate with us for a while, and the phone call yesterday afternoon informing us that Visit Inverness Loch Ness had received a strong Yes vote from its members is definitely one of them. There was no doubt in my mind that the team has been delivering for the members over the past 5 years, and that we will continue to do so for the next 5 years and beyond. However, the last few years have been a tough time for Tourism & Hospitality, with many working harder than ever before against a shrinking bottom line. You’ll have heard about it a million times already, but I make no apology for restating that the impacts of Brexit, a pandemic, and the rising cost of everything, make it tough. Then there's the financial effects of poorly thought-through legislation such as Short Term Let Licensing, a VAT threshold which only saw a pitiful increase in the latest budget after being stagnant for 7 years, and the removal of Tax-Free shopping for overseas visitors, among other things. Businesses and organisations live under a constant expectation to do more and deliver more…for less. Those who work within the Tourism & Hospitality sectors are among some of the most stoic people I know, but everyone has their limits, and it may have been easy to view BID fees as a quick way to cut some costs. The fact that didn’t happen is not lost on us, and we are hugely appreciative that value has been seen, and faith that has been shown, in the team here at Visit Inverness Loch Ness to keep delivering. Thank you.