According to Eric Woolridge, Destination by Design President, “this project is unique in that Boone’s tourism economy is well established. The plan will focus on balancing existing tourism assets with the growing needs of local residents. We must not just grow tourism, but we need to do so responsibly in order to meet a variety of community goals.”
Like many locations, the enchantment of the Boone space has generated many challenges for the area people, reminiscent of an absence of reasonably priced housing, congestion, and overuse of pure assets. However, tourism is the lifeblood of the native economy, producing greater than $6.5 million {dollars} yearly in occupancy taxes. Responsible stewardship of these {dollars} might help to mitigate some of these challenges.
Billy Kennedy, Vice Chair of the Watauga County Board of Commissioners says, “Imagine Watauga is a great opportunity to bring resources from people who come to our county and put it into infrastructure that benefits both the tourists and the residents.”
According to Wright Tilley, Director of the Boone and Watauga County Tourism Development Authorities, the plan is a community-led imaginative and prescient and 15-year roadmap in direction of enhancing tourism belongings. “As the area continues to grow and thrive, there’s never been a better opportunity to look to the future than now,” says Tilley.
Previously, Destination by Design was instrumental within the growth of a number of beloved native belongings reminiscent of Rocky Knob Park, Watauga River and New River paddle entry factors, and space greenway expansions. Destination by Design works with communities throughout the nation to plan, design and promote vibrant mainstreets, parks, trails, and destination-quality recreation areas. For extra info, go to www.dbdplanning.com.
SOURCE Destination by Design
