Opinion: Tourism's future is our future

Opinion: Tourism's future is our future



Staff
Publication Date: 04/19/09

Tuesday's a big day for St. Johns County tourism and everyone who has a stake in our economy.

Phase I of the Destination Master Plan, the roadmap to our future in tourism, gets a rollout like never before.

Three times that day, PGAV Destination Consulting of St. Louis, Mo., will show how they've spent our money part of a $300,000 contract since December on assessing tourism and where it should be headed.

Every one of us has a stake in tourism's future, whether we drive a tour train, tell the story of an historic site, run the pro shop at a golf course, work in a bank, or sell important paper products.

There's little excuse for not being at one of the presentations: the County Commission at 9 a.m., a public presentation at County Convention Center at 2 p.m., or one for the St. Augustine City Commission and the St. Augustine Beach City Commission at 6:30 p.m. in the Ringhaver Student Center, Flagler College.

Phase I focuses on responses from groups representing visitors, arts and cultural activists, hoteliers and others randomly surveyed. In March, The Record said in an editorial that the public's viewpoint should be heard, too, in addition to special interests. Too often people tend to talk among each other without broadening the audience. The public's voice needs to be heard.

One element of the assessment will surely stir some in and out of tourism. For example, the report says, "it is not advisable" for St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city, to position its tourism solely on history. Rather it should follow the example of other cities like Charleston and Savannah where history is a "backdrop."

It's worth going to the presentations just to probe that assessment and many more with the consultants.

Strategies and preliminary recommendations will be outlined for the destination's future and the amount and use of bed tax for tourism promotion.

Tourism isn't owned by the people who operate attractions, lodging establishments, tour trains, carriages, souvenir shops, retail shops, restaurants and stage special events. Without non-tourism businesses, tourism couldn't function.

Local research shows that for every $1 a tourist spends, another $5 is generated in our economy. That's up from about 10 years ago when the return on investment for $1 was $3.14.

A destination master plan that works for tourism will work for our general economy, too. Help the consultants shape our future.

Hear about the master plan:

The following meetings will be held Tuesday on the Destination Master Plan.

* St. Johns County Commission, first presentation, shortly after 9 a.m., County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View.

* Tourism Development Council public presentation, 2 p.m., St. Johns County Convention Center, St. Augustine room, World Golf Village, International Golf Parkway off Interstate 95.

* Joint session, St. Augustine City Commission and St. Augustine Beach City Commission, 6:30 p.m., Ringhaver Student Center, Virginia Room, Flagler College, Sevilla Street.

All meetings are open to the public.

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