Upcoming Missions

The Product Development Mission will focus on community and product development from a tourism perspective. The mission will explore the challenges for industry to offer products and services that increase the overall profitability of the community and further develop the attractiveness and competitiveness of the destination. The Product Development Mission will provide information on initiatives that showcase the product development process, proactive development approaches and opportunities, new forms of tourism, product development obstacles, broadening market base, repositioning, and strategic partnerships.  

This mission will focus on the “connection of craft, people, and place” and is centered on learning from the nationally recognized “Handmade in America” model in western North Carolina. The belief is that economic revitalization isn’t necessarily tied to luring “modern” industry but in making the hidden heritage and craftspeople known. The Homegrown Handmade model will demonstrate the power of building partnerships that together, help promote a specific destination. Also, this model will showcase how small businesses in rural settings can create innovate experiential tourism through local product. These models are excellent examples of how small communities brought people in off a main tourism venue (the Appellation trail) and converted tourism to be their major industry.

The Experiential Tourism Mission will concentrate on the development of interactive tourism experiences and packaging. It will look at how to collaborate with local resorts, facilities, and service providers to offer diverse experiences, which provide authenticity, inspiration, and replenishment of the spirit through programs, guides, and facilitators.