The Shadow
WARM SPRINGS – The Bath County Board of Supervisors has accepted a tourism plan of action for the county.
The Bath County Tourism Plan: A Four-Season and Four-Corner Plan of Action, composed by the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development, was unanimously adopted by supervisors following a presentation Tuesday night.
Copies of the 49-page document are available through the office of Bath County Administrator Bonnie Johnson. It contains demographic information on the county, visitor center data, research on Virginia tourism and information gathered during the course of several meetings. The plan also lists the numerous assets Bath County can already offer to tourists.
“Bath County is so blessed to have so many assets,” said Dave Nutter with the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development, who spearheaded the Bath County tourism initiative. “Many communities approaching tourism would love to have them.”
The plan also lists several recommendations that it suggests should be implemented over the course of the next few years.
In year one, the plan calls for the hiring of a tourism director. The tourism director should be experienced in working with a diverse group of stakeholders as well as working independently to generate program results.
Working with other county officials, the tourism director would develop a capital improvement plan designed to make Bath County a more welcoming place for visitors.
The tourism director would solicit community ideas through the public process and develop a budget which would be considered by the county administrator and board of supervisors in the development of the county budget.
In year two, the tourism director would assist county economic development efforts to bring a more diversified retail mix to the county in support of the tourism plan.
A comprehensive marketing and branding plan should be developed by the beginning of the spring in year two, which includes significant funding to market Bath County.
Discussions should also begin on hosting a signature event in the county such as a major golf tournament or bicycle event.
In years three through five, the county would establish a goal of attracting at least one restaurant and retail store under the provision of the tourism district.
Other goals would include establishing a signature cultural festival, attracting new businesses around the county’s music and cultural heritage activities and hosting a major golf, bicycle or car club event.
Nutter said hiring a tourism director should take a high priority with supervisors.
“We felt that was the No. 1 issue,” Nutter said.
The plan was authored with the assistance of an advisory committee composed of Bath County residents from the private, public and business sectors. The plan also contained feedback from the public that was generated from several meetings.
“One of the things we find in our working in development – no matter what direction you go, whether it’s tourism or industrial development – it’s very important to have an open process,” Nutter explained. “It’s very important to bring together all the elements of the community.”
The plan contains goals and strategies that should also be implemented as the county moves forward. Those goals include:
– enhance coordination and communication between various tourism stakeholders in the county;
– promote Bath County’s many outdoor activities in a way that makes it easier for visitors to access and enjoy;
– promote existing events and festivals;
– promote the music and cultural heritage of Bath County;
– enhance tourist-based industries in Bath County;
– enhance opportunities for motoring visitors.
The plan recognizes that Bath County is already an attractive destination for tourists. Nearly 65 percent of the county’s workforce is currently employed in the tourism industry.
“The overreaching message is that everyone _ whether it’s the public sector or the private sector – is all working together,” Nutter explained. “That is the most important message.
“Communities that come together and work on strategic planning will be successful,” he added.
Nutter was joined Tuesday night by Dr. Ted Settle, the director of the Virginia Tech Office of Economic Development. He echoed many of Nutter’s sentiments.
“It’s real exciting for us to be here,” Dr. Settle said. “This is a project I personally had a lot of interest in.
“I’m excited about the region in which you call home and work,” he added. “We think that working communities are very important, and engaging the community in that process -which we tried to do here _ we found it to be absolutely essential to a successful project.”
The county funded the $31,100 plan with grant monies and funds generated through an additional 2 percent in the county’s transient occupancy tax.
Supervisors accepted the plan by a 5-0 vote. They also unanimously approved a Jon Trees motion to proceed with the process of hiring a tourism director.
“I feel we need to enact what you have suggested,” Trees said.
County officials also expressed their gratitude to Virginia Tech officials for their efforts during the process of compiling the plan.
“I’m going to miss working with these folks,” Johnson said. “They’ve been such a positive influence on all of us.”
Several supervisors added suggestions that they thought should be included in the plan.
“This is not going to be a document that lays on the shelf and gains dust,” Supervisor Richard Byrd said. “We don’t want to take away from what we already have; we want to build on what we’ve already got and move forward with something a little bit better.”
“This is a beginning,” Supervisor Percy Nowlin said.
