We do a lot of planning here at CES;
mostly for our clients in the form of business plans, and community and regional
strategies.
As we’re getting ready to begin
working with another community on a cohesive community tourism plan I wanted to
take a minute to express how powerful this type of plan can be.
In a community with a multitude of
committees, departments, and special interest groups – lead by a Council or
Committee that is made up of individuals who themselves may have different
visions and priorities – it becomes increasingly valuable to have a unified
tourism plan.
Your plan needs to listen to all voices,
and address every element of your community that will create a sustainable
platform for your local tourism industry. Without this comprehensive approach
your community runs the risk of incongruent initiatives, contradictory
development, and wasted time and money in the process.
Create a Tourism Committee made up of
representatives from your Tourism Department, Recreation Department, Culture
& Heritage Department, School Board, Economic Development Department, Youth
Department, Council, etc. Make them the custodians of your plan; this
way, if there is a change in local politics the plan can remain in effect,
securely in the hands of the Tourism Committee.
CES’s Pando Terra™ Tourism Master Plan process
addresses 7 critical elements of community sustainability, and promotes a
cooperative platform for tourism development. And unlike traditional 3 to 5
year plans, Pando Terra™ is designed to be a fluid planning tool, adapting to
changing realities and maintaining its functionality years into the future.
If you’d like to learn more about our
approach to planning, send me an email at clinton@cesclients.com, or call me toll
free at 1-877-444-5550.
