Once you have identified possible participants, schedule a meeting to explore interest and support within your community for tourism development.  Do all you can to ensure that key community decision influencers are present!  This should include both persons in favor of and against tourism in your community. Before the first meeting is held, develop an agenda containing some of the following items:

• Introduction to tourism development

  -What it is who, is involved, etc.
  -Tourism as an economic diversification strategy
  -Needs for planning, community involvement

• Identification of current tourism efforts
• Evaluating the costs and benefits of tourism
• Decision to proceed or not to proceed with tourism
• Open discussion

Worksheet 2 contains a sample outline for discussion, as well as a sheet to define certain member’s roles and responsibilities.

Tourism is not appropriate for every community, and if the task force decides that the community is not ready to make the long-term commitment and investment necessary for tourism to succeed it should discuss what is needed and if tourism might be an option in the future.¹²  Whether you need more research and discussion to build interest prior to making a final decision should also be discussed.

However, if you are proceeding with development you should do so by having a clear understanding of the community needs that tourism can enhance, such as:

• Is tourism primarily a vehicle for increasing revenues, the tax base, and/or employment?
• Is tourism primarily a way to generate interest and revenues necessary to support historic preservation?
• Is tourism a vehicle for creating a new community image, attracting other industries, and promoting economic diversification?
• What are your community’s goals for development?

11 & 12. Adapted from Messer, Cynthia 2004. Community Tourism Development:  Ch.3 Planning: How and Why, University of Minn. Extension Service