It is National Travel and Tourism week and your local community is the best place to start for grand adventures. These 4 Tourism Tips to Support your Local Community can go a long way in helping spread the word about travel opportunities in your region.
I’ve recently been helping with Tourism in Sevier County Arkansas. Through our study and research, our team has found so many opportunities and stories to share that many people often overlook. Maybe its the outside view I bring, maybe its that I’m still someone new to the area, or maybe its just that I’m a little bit of a nerd and I’ve been doing concentrated research, but there are so many neat, fascinating and entertaining things to do right here in the county where I live.
I’m challenging my community this week with 4 steps to take to encourage tourism in your local community – and I’m offering the same challenge to you
- Visit the fun things to do in your community – Its is hard to share about the things you have in your community if you have not been out to explore them yourself. Do a little research and make a “bucket list” for your family to explore. Do you have lakes, rivers, or outdoor parks? Do you have local museums? Make a list of shops, restaurants and specialty stores in your area. Check out your local chamber, economic development, or city/county websites to see what stories they are sharing and the sites they invite you to visit. Write them all down and make a plan of how you can attack your list and visit each spot. Maybe host a Hometown Scavenger Hunt with other families or members of your Community or Small Group. Or, use these items to build your Family Summer Bucket List.
- Tell someone about your experiences – if you have visited your local eateries, shops, events, and activities, tell someone about it. Have you found the best burger you’ve ever eaten or picked your favorite al pastor taco (I keep eating them to try and decide, but I’m really close)? Do you have a favorite cup of coffee or person who serves it to you? Make sure when you are gathering with out of town friends and family you tell them what they are missing.
- Post about your experiences on social media – pictures really are worth so much more than words. When your family is out and about in your community, share a picture on social media and tell others about the fun. Share about your favorite spots and tag them in your post. Also tag your local Chamber, visitors center, or economic development/tourism teams and I bet you get a share!
- Share a review – did you know that people planning a trip often visit a business’ Facebook page, Yelp, Trip Advisor and Pinterest as they research. Make sure you have gone online and reviewed the local places you love most so others not familiar with our community will know what to expect. As you visit places or have great dining experiences go in and leave a review as well. The great thing is this can be an ongoing process. It always helps people driving through see a menu or your favorite items when they are doing research in the car.
Get out and explore your community, county, and the surrounding region. There are many things to do, great bites to eat and more shops to investigate. Explore and Share your experiences.
While not in our county, some of our favorite travel experiences include:
