“Most amazing is Gatlinburg’s pioneering waste processing plant, which attracts observers from around the world and turns the idea of recycling on its head.”
Tag: tourism
Showing 106-126 of 161 results
Growing Asheville’s tourism industry
Qualitative findings, paired with broader, quantitative surveys, support Explore Asheville’s ongoing quest to better understand its expanding roster of target markets. Because while Asheville’s total visitation numbers continue to rise, so do those of other destinations that are competing for the same tourist dollars.
Cooper brings executive focus to mountains
At an April 23 meeting of his cabinet at UNC Asheville, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper brought state leadership to the Western part of the state for a special focus on the issues and perspectives of the region.
Letter: City Council should create parking solutions downtown
“I know tourism is important to the local economy, but considering the low wages generated by tourism, I think City Council should do more to improve the lives of Asheville citizens.”
Council wades into rental fray, looks to future of RAD
Asheville City Council continued its quest to crack down on whole-house and whole-unit short-term rentals at its Oct. 24 meeting, as it also approved a 70-room hotel project in the River Arts District and showed warm support for giving more staff time to the Energy Innovation Task Force.
Explore Asheville CVB celebrates new office, brand & independence
The dreary Wednesday morning weather couldn’t put a damper on a 1 p.m. reception celebrating the new office location of the recently-rebranded Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Business booming as Asheville builds on tourist trade
Asheville’s bustling economy owes much to the city’s continued popularity as a tourist destination, but the area is also benefiting from a wave of local business expansions.
TDA grapples with image problem
While reviewing recent results and planning for the coming year at its annual strategic planning retreat, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority also grappled with its biggest challenge — convincing locals that the tourism industry is a positive force in the region.
Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority celebrates a year of success at annual meeting
Business leaders, nonprofit representatives, elected officials and political candidates from across Buncombe County gathered at the Biltmore Estate’s Lioncrest venue Wednesday, Oct. 28 for the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority’s annual meeting.
Shuttled, good and hard
Main Street renaissance: WNC’s small towns confront growth, change
Asheville may be a top dream destination for many folks, but for an increasing number of newcomers and old-timers alike, the No. 1 dream destination may be just down the road a ways. With the challenges of urbanization besetting Asheville, newcomers and locals alike are turning to surrounding towns and communities in search of cheaper […]
Trojan horse-drawn carriages
Updated: HB2 costs Asheville $1.6 million in lost bookings so far, says CVB
At the regular monthly meeting of the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority, Convention and Visitors Bureau staff outlined HB2’s effects felt in the local tourism industry since the bill was passed on March 23.
Balancing local tourism’s costs and benefits
With an annual economic impact of $2.6 billion, tourism is a critical industry in Western North Carolina. But politicians and local residents are increasingly asking whether the tourism industry is paying a fair share of the cost of providing everything from sidewalks to roads to public safety to tourists. Now, City Councilman Gordon Smith is pushing for a new study to consider the local tourism industry’s impact and sustainability.
New local cartoon character idea #32
Tourism experts’ advice to WNC towns: Keep it real
By Temi-Tope Adeleye | Western North Carolina University’s third annual tourism conference featured plenty of good news, but the main message of the day was the importance of collaboration, authenticity and building on natural attractions.
Sores of Income
Letter writer: Short-term rentals provide meaningful tourism
“Creating meaningful tourism creates closeness with the visitors and a connection to the community visitors would otherwise miss out on.”
Room tax honesty
Leveling the playing field: Airbnb starts collecting taxes on Buncombe County rentals
Asheville’s status as a top tourist destination has sparked a boom in vacation lodging, including short-term rentals and homestays as well as hotels. Amid considerable controversy, local listings on Airbnb have skyrocketed in recent months.
Letter writer: Why not let Asheville residents benefit from tourism boom?
” The concern and resistance from the hotel and bed-and-breakfast industry about individual residents listing rooms for short-term rental on Airbnb or other similar sites is overstated and unwarranted.”