Rural Heritage: Craft, People and Place - Asheville, North Carolina

March 22nd - March 26th

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.

Learning Objectives:

• How to develop trails, tours and adventures through initiatives that focus on bonding visitor with craft, people and place
• How to revitalize small towns through community development centered on creating tourism experiences
• Discover the value of earth (agri-tourism) and culture in creating a unique tourism experience
• Learn how to facilitate cultural, historic and culinary educational experiences
• How to innovate experiential tourism through local product
• What can small businesses in rural settings do to create their own network and connections
• "Best practice" marketing strategies for businesses in rural settings
• Learn about working with what you have to create a successful tourism destination
• Learn how to create festivals, tournaments and events around a community landmark to help establish a successful tourism region
• Understanding the role of authenticity in a tourism experience
• How to break from traditional interpretation to attract visitors and use "rural heritage"  as a competitive advantage
• Learn how to alter your product offering to remain competitive and adapt to the "new tourist"
• Learn about the partnerships, networks and efforts needed to incorporate new tourist initiatives
• How to enhance the visitors experience through the use of technology at a tourism venue
• How to provide support for and promote tourism in rural communities
• How to stay true to your rural heritage by promoting eco-tourism practices
• Incorporating culinary, art, craft, local heritage, people and place into one tourism initiative / venue