“In fact, much of the ire now being aimed at the TDA — and tourism in general — merely echoes concerns about the tourism of a century ago, and the mismanagement and negligence of city government back then.”
Tag: Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority
Showing 1-21 of 158 results
Letter: Redirect tourism spending toward other needs
“Redirect Tourism Development Authority money to help with housing affordability; to offer deeply affordable child care; improve public transportation; and increase wages of workers in the tourist service industries.”
Letter: Trains, plazas and resilience
“It would be great to have a train system around Asheville — to and from the Asheville, Charlotte and Greenville airports going to destinations in and around Asheville — including some of the small towns nearby.”
Letter: Use TDA budget to offset tourism’s downsides
“I fully support the Tourism Development Authority budget being changed so that half of its current earnings serve to offset the negative impacts of tourism.”
Letter: Spend tourism tax money on infrastructure
“The proceeds from the tax (75% plus) should be going toward enhancing the infrastructure that the visitors and locals use.”
Letter: TDA should put money where it’s urgently needed
“Put your money where it’s needed: Give it to local organizations that do not have your resources that are already helping the desperate to get on their feet and off the streets; reduce the unhoused and underserved population; make a difference in the world; make Asheville a better place to visit; and your tourists will come.”
Letter: Tourism board should use budget to educate tourists
“But the recent feeding (and attempted hugging?) of bears by visitors (which led to park closures impacting residents and guests alike) leads me to believe that the TDA (a group that takes credit for bringing 12 million guests to our region each year) should assume some responsibility for safeguarding guests, as well as impacted residents.”
Buncombe to seek competitive bids for trash service
After existing provider WastePro proposed rate hikes as part of its contract renewal, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Nov. 21 to seek alternative providers on the open market.
Letter: Spend TDA funds on pickleball courts and more
“Build a large pickleball facility to take care of those picklers and free up tennis courts for their intended purpose.”
Letter: What a tourism director’s salary tells us about priorities
“Now we understand that tourism is more important than education, jobs, roads, DEI, health care or absolutely anything else.”
Letter: Tourism revenue could support housing for officers
“If the Tourism Development Authority feels strongly enough about taking steps to reduce common street crime and other headline-grabbing crimes, perhaps using a portion of tourism revenue to subsidize the cost of local housing for officers would help.”
Asheville food and beverage industry gets new representative on BCTDA board
Wilson, general manager of Wedge Brewing Co., will join the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority in September as one of two representatives of businesses not in the hotel or vacation-rental industry.
Letter: Will Asheville go the way of Greenwich Village?
“We still have time to change things, but it will take a focus on building on what we have, not tearing down the old for the new.”
Letter: Does tourism bureau have blinders on?
“I only read about one more hotel being built, but nothing to help the tourists and locals find parking. This is a tourist area, so make it tourist-friendly.”
Service industry workers petition for affordable housing funding from BCTDA
Representatives presented a petition signed by 2,000 workers and supporters asking the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority to consider using the Legacy Investment From Tourism fund to increase subsidized housing for tourism industry workers.
Keep Asheville weird: Businesses try to maintain uniqueness amid city’s rapid growth
Small-business owners recognize that they not only add value but are a driving force behind the popularity of this quirky city.
Council to hear update on TDA takeover of Sports Commission
A study commissioned for the TDA by the Huddle Up Group, a Phoenix-based sports consulting firm, recommends consolidating the sports commission into the tourism body. The TDA already funds the bulk of the commission’s work, at roughly $230,000 per year. (The city of Asheville and Buncombe County each pitch in about $45,000 annually, while UNC Asheville offers its facilities as in-kind contributions.)
BCTDA seeks to waive part of penalty for bed-and-breakfast’s missing taxes
If the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners take the BCTDA’s recommendation, owner Dean Whiteford still will owe almost $6,000 in late fees in what was the largest waiver request several board members could remember seeing during their board tenure.
BCTDA forecasts higher net income stream in 2024, to the benefit of county coffers
The TDA is on track to pull in $37.6 million next fiscal year, slightly more than this year’s projected $37 million.
Letter: Ask TDA to support homes for workers
“But we can directly help our county’s workers, the people who drive our tourism economy — and thus drive contributions to the TDA’s coffers — by asking the TDA to give some money back to build housing for such workers.”
Letter: How to pay for downtown remedies
“The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority is sitting on millions of dollars in its coffers and should spend some of its money making downtown Asheville the tourism haven that it promises it is in all of its marketing efforts, but their promise is currently not delivered.”