Press release from Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau:
Seats are still available for an upcoming event where consultants for the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) will reveal results of phase one of a yearlong process to change how monies from the Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF) are used.
The Tourism Management Forum will take place on Oct. 23, at 6 p.m., at AB Tech’s Ferguson Auditorium, located at 19 Tech Dr., in Asheville. Doors open at 5:30. The event is free and open to the public, but due to limited space, pre-registration is recommended at ashevillecvb.com/event/tourism-management-forum-october-23-2019/.
TPDF, a community grant program established by state law in 2001 with an increase in the occupancy tax paid by overnight visitors to the Asheville area, is undergoing a monumental shift from an application-based process to a long-range investment strategy created with community input and in collaboration with public entities. The initiative is called the Buncombe County Tourism Management and Investment Plan to Develop Community Assets (TMIP).
“Our responsibility, as a public authority created for the public good, is to benefit the people of our community by enhancing the economic vitality of Asheville and Buncombe County. At the same time, we believe it is critical to preserve, protect and grow sustainably,” said BCTDA Chair Gary Froeba.
The objective of the Tourism Management and Investment Plan is to become more proactive and strategic in how revenue from the Tourism Product Development Fund is invested in future years, said Stephanie Brown, president and CEO of Explore Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“We want to invest this funding, within state legislative mandates, in a way that will allow Buncombe County to maintain the quality of our community for the people who live here. A great place to live is a great place to visit.”
The TMIP project, first announced in the Fall of 2018 with an expected completion date of Spring 2020, has four phases: Assessment, Discovery, Collaboration and Prioritization. As part of phase one, Buncombe County residents had the opportunity to provide input by completing an online survey or participating in one of three public workshops that took place in August, all facilitated by PGAV, the consulting firm leading the project.
At the October forum, the project team will present results of the surveys and other findings from their assessment of existing conditions, community plans, and future needs related to Buncombe County’s authentic heritage, local economy, capacity and affordability, infrastructure and capital investment, and connectivity. The format of the event also includes a panel discussion after PGAV’s presentation, moderated by Leadership Asheville Executive Director Ed Manning.
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