Community Tourism Development Manual

3rd Edition

Cynthia C. Messer

Copyright © 2010 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

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In the past several decades, tourism has evolved as a major economic development priority for many
communities. Increasing consumer demand for educational and participatory travel experiences has
resulted in a variety of specialty niche markets such as nature-based tourism, cultural-heritage tourism,
and agritourism. Today, more and more communities seek to link strategic tourism planning
with sustainable development. To address these trends and needs, the University of Minnesota
Tourism Center developed Community Tourism Development.

This is the third edition of this manual and refl ects updated data and changes that have emerged
since the previous edition. This edition includes an updated CD-ROM of the work and assessment
sheets that allows the user to input local data for easier use; new, streamlined binding; and new or
updated case studies.

We designed Community Tourism Development to provide organizations and individuals with a
development process and materials to help communities plan, initiate, and expand tourism as a
means of long-term economic development. The development concepts are applicable to communities
of all sizes and at various stages of tourism development.

Table of Contents

Credits ii

Preface vi

Section One: Background

• CHAPTER 1 The Community Tourism Model 1
• CHAPTER 2 Tourism Basics 11

Section Two: Plan

• CHAPTER 3 Planning: Why and How
  (979 K PDF)
  • Worksheet 3.1 (697 K PDF)
  • Worksheet 3.2 (697 K PDF)
• CHAPTER 4 Building Community Support
• CHAPTER 5 Organizing for Tourism Development

Section Three: Develop

• CHAPTER 6 Assessing Your Tourism Potential

• CHAPTER 7 Assessing Your Market

• CHAPTER 8 Marketing/Communication

• CHAPTER 9 Local Business Development

• CHAPTER 10 Infrastructure/Appearance

Section Four: Manage

• CHAPTER 11 Human Resources

• CHAPTER 12 Funding

• CHAPTER 13 Maintaining Tourism Vitality

Section Five: Case Studies

APPENDIX A

• Dahlonega, Georgia

• Sandpoint, Idaho
• San Luis, Colorado
• Villages of Van Buren, Iowa

Section Six: Wildlife Tourism

APPENDIX B

• Opportunities and Examples