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Tuesday, February 10, 2009 10:31 AM Tourism leaders looks for new ideas By Rochelle Moore | Times Staff Writer Wilson tourism leaders will travel to New Bern Wednesday in hopes of learning new ways to sustain tourism travel during a poor economy. Wilson Visitors Bureau director Sandra Homes and three members of the Wilson County Tourism Development Authority -- Bobby Boykin, Frank Emory and Jina Patel -- plan to attend a mini summit, Sustainable Tourism in a Down Economy, at the New Bern Convention Center. "What we're trying to do is come up with ideas during a slow economy," Homes said. "Hopefully, they'll have some good input that will help give us some good ideas." The event is being offered by the East Carolina University Center for Sustainable Tourism, the N.C. Northeast Region and N.C. Eastern Region. The summit will include several sessions that will explore the current condition of the tourism industry, ways to continue attracting tourists by focusing on the opportunities available in the region and trends and practices within the hospitality industry. Guest speakers will include the director of the ECU Center for Sustainable Tourism, the chairman of the Hospitality Management Program at ECU, the director of the Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens in New Bern, the owner of Weeping Radish Farm Brewery, Butchery and Eco Farm in Jarvisburg and the manager of NC Green Power. "We're always looking for any creative ideas that might benefit Wilson," said Boykin, Wilson County Tourism Authority chairman. "I think we all should be concerned about the economy. We've got to stay abreast of the situation and do the best we can." Locally, the Wilson tourism industry has not faced a significant decline in activity, which is partially measured by hotel bookings in the area, Homes said. The county's 3 percent hotel occupancy tax slightly increased from December 2007 to December 2008, from $30,927 to $31,580, respectively, a $653 difference. Several hotel owners are starting to see a decline in business, but the impact may not be known until the end of the first quarter, in late March, Homes said. "I don't think it's hit yet," she said. Emory, who is also the chairman of the Wilson County Board of Commissioners, said he hopes to learn how the tourism authority can best spend its $1.8 million fund balance. "If I'm going to be participating on a board, I like to make intelligent decisions," Emory said. "We have money to give to people for their use, and I'd like to have as much information as I can on how to make that money useful." The Tourism Authority in June decided to give $750,000 of its fund balance toward the construction of Little League baseball fields at the Burt Gillette Athletic Complex. The baseball complex, viewed as a tourism draw, was approved by a split vote on the tourism board. The board was divided again in January when members James Johnson III, a Wilson city councilman, and John Byrd, recommended that the authority give $300,000 each to the N.C. Baseball Museum and Imagination Station, and $100,000 each to the Oliver Nestus Freeman Round House and the Museum of the Coastal Plains. The board did not vote on the recommendation but instead voted against a motion to give the baseball museum $300,000. "I think when we make these kind of decisions, we should have different options," Emory said. "On the big boards, nobody spends money on the spur of the moment." rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818 |
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What Mall? said...
All we have at the mall is two stores. No real traffic. Stores do not stay there.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 8:49 AM
HaHa said...All we have at the mall is two stores. No real traffic. Stores do not stay there.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 8:49 AM
Remember the Human Domino idea? Oh that was precious!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 10:42 PM
Forget tourism, how do we get businesses here and keep them here? Thank goodness we finally broke through the small town mentality and brought in the business on Raleigh Rd. But just look at our wonderful mall! There is a top tourist destination!! Movie theater put in the WRONG place. People from all over the world come to Wilson for business reasons since we have a few global companies. Most I know leave here with not much more impressions than thoughts of bbq & antiques and maybe a mention about tobacco. Oh and a church on every corner. Can we split one more church while we are at it? YAWN. Any idea why we do not get much tourism? Change the city and tourism will come. It seldom works the other way around. And while we are at it, let's make the city establishments NON SMOKING! Thank god the mall finally got something right. I love my city, but we have more pressing issues.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 9:25 PM
Perhaps New Bern draws more tourists because it actually has some attractions. Mystery weekends by B&B's, river sports, a convention center at the Sheraton, the Governor's Mansion, excellent downtown bistros and high end restaurants, whimsical shoppes, quality shoppes...and all of this downtown. See any difference?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 8:50 PM
They can't even come up with any ideas when the economy was good. Idea: Stop paying the mega- developer that high rent for a place hardly anyone uses.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 12:45 PM
