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Bringing coordination and capacity to tourism development efforts.
On this page:
Vision and Strategy
The MWC Tourism Committee combines local knowledge with regional perspective to reduce
redundancy, leverage synergies, and advance the triple bottom line
approach (economy, community, landscape) by:
- Securing and guiding investment in high quality, innovative, marketable tourism experiences that can be replicated or built upon by other in the Maine Woods.
- Delivering communication and convening services to related, but dispersed, activities that could benefit from regional-level program coordination.
The Committee is charged with: continuing to work with the Betterment Fund to guide direct strategic investment in tourism initiatives with the potential to create living wage jobs, coordinating efforts to advance the principles of Rural Destination Tourism, and monitoring and guiding the implementation of the Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative.
Tourism Investment
The Betterment Fund chose the Maine Woods
Consortium for an annual grant of $50,000 for
each of the next three years to be passed through to tourism related projects that lead to living wage jobs. In 2009, the Tourism Committee selected three tourism projects for funding.
- Katahdin “Made by Hand” Maine Woods Discovery Package
Developing a multi-dimensional tourism package to introduce
visitors to the rich variety of craft traditions and artisans in the
Maine Woods. Sponsored by the Maine Craft Association, partnering with the New England Outdoor Center.
- Wabanaki Cultural Tourism Center Website
Creating a high quality interactive website as
an immediate sales outlet for tribal artists and craftspeople. Also serving as part of Four Directions Development Corporation's planning
process for development of a Wabanaki Cultural Tourism Center.
- Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative
Description below, click here to read.
Rural Destination Tourism
A new approach to rural tourism development that combines the best of authentic and intimate place-based tourism experiences with high quality customer service standards, and seamless integration of local providers organized around thematic visitor experiences that customers can access through a variety of coordinated planning and booking tools. The Franklin County Tourism Network and Maine Woods Discovery are two prototypes for RDT in the Maine Woods.
Franklin County Tourism Network
A county level prototype intended to create opportunities for business growth and product development, focusing on Franklin County's four season destination offerings. FCTN is currently focused on participating as a prototype county for the Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative and the on the updating of the Franklin Heritage Loop Map.
Maine Woods Discovery
A regional prototype that includes large scale businesses and small scale service providers teaming up to offer visitors high quality opportunities to experience the region’s natural destinations, authentic cultural traditions, and distinctive local products. This group is currently working
on developing winter packages. To view packages, visit www.mainewoodsdiscovery.com.
Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative
A long-term initiative intended to
organize networks of existing tourism training providers including
university, community college, and adult education programs as well as
private sector training programs to deliver a comprehensive,
multi-modal training program to meet educational needs expressed by tourism businesses and their
employees. The three
pilot areas are Franklin, Piscataquis, and Washington Counties. Current
planning team members represent Greater Franklin Development
Corporation, Piscataquis County Economic Development, Sunrise County
Economic Council, Maine Center for Tourism Research and Outreach,
Maine Office of Tourism, and a tourism training consultant. Click here for more information.
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