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The Nevada commission currently serves as the national model for the
direct-to-customer facilitation of motorsports / motorhome / technology oriented
outdoor wreckreation. The Southern Tourism Society serves an a industry
governing body, putting forth bold new initiatives for enriching the
industry, transforming society and manipulating how Americans interact with
their lands and heritage.
They are about to put forward some very big ideas --- as you can read
below!
Next week (September 6 - 8, 2006), the Southern Tourism Society will hold
its annual meeting.
Invited speakers include the ARC's Derrick Crandall, outgoing NPS
Directory Fran Mainella and long-time ARC champion, Rep. Jim Oberstar. All
three are past winners of the "Sheldon Coleman Great Outdoors Award" --- an
honor bestowed upon those who have do the most to advance the interests of the
wreckreation and tourism industries. Pasted below is an invitation to their
meeting. Selected highlights of the program can also be read
below. It is in these highlight where outsiders, (i.e. citizens) can catch a
glimpse of what our elected officials and their industry partners are planning
for us.
---Invitation: begin excerpted quoted ---
Southern Tourism Society Fall / Annual Meeting
2006
September 6 - 8, 2006
Arlington,
Virginia
Goals:
Extend the dialogue between the public and private sector
Expand existing partnerships between the public and private sector
Advance the cause of sustainable tourism
Don’t miss an opportunity to attend this hallmark event.
This forum will bring together professionals from all walks of the travel
and tourism industry. Together, public and private organizations will
discuss past roles and explore the future of sustainable tourism.
---Agenda: begin quoted highlights ---
Agenda for Federal State Tourism Summit
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
1:00 - 2:40 p.m. - Transportation Track
- Highway Success Stories: How
funding for transportation and infrastructure has served the
industry. Session Description: The tourism industry depends heavily on a sound transportation
infrastructure. The industry has also benefited from transportation enhancement
funds. This session will highlight Federal highway programs and success stories
from communities which have benefited from highway enhancement funds. This
session will also look at the future of transportation enhancement funds
and opportunities for continued enhancement funding. Speaker:
Rob Draper, Director, National Scenic Byways Program
- Planning for the Next Highway Bill: Implications
for the travel and tourism industry. Speaker:
Representative Jim Oberstar, Minnesota (invited)
3:20 - 5:00 p.m. - Product Development Track
- Destination Development with Federal Land
Managers: How communities can leverage public lands to increase economic
development and grow entrepreneurship. Session
Description: As destinations are seeking to develop new product,
strategies and actions must be implemented that will help meet the needs of
visitors, while at the same time contribute to the sustainability and protection
of America 's public lands and natural resources. This session will explore ways
destination marketers and federal land agencies can achieve their mutual visions
of economic benefit and sustainability through collaboration and partnership. Speaker: Kevin Kilcullen, Chief of Visitor Services, U.S. Fish
& Wildlife Service
Thursday, September 7, 2006
11:45 - 1:00 p.m. - Luncheon: Introduction:
- Fran Mainella, Director, National Park Service;
Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary of the Department
of the Interior
1:00 - 2:40 p.m. - Information/Marketing Track
- Gateway Communities and the Public/ Private
Sector: Capitalizing on partnerships to repackage and reposition your marketing
plan. Session Description: By seeking and
utilizing unique partnerships with federal land managers, gateway communities
can create opportunities to repackage and reposition marketing plans to support
and enhance your destination. This session will explore avenues that ensure
small communities, located just outside of federal properties, become partners
with their federal land managers in the federal land agency planning process and
the advancement of sustaining our federal land treasures. Speaker: Dean Reeder, National Tourism Director, National Parks
Service
- Public/ Private Partnerships: Creating new
opportunities for tourism marketing by leveraging partnerships and public
lands. Session Description: The concepts of
"smart marketing" for tourism have emerged as primary themes in most strategic
marketing plans. This session will explore the role marketing can play in the
wise management of public lands and tourism utilizing unique opportunities for
partnership that advance both the need to market for economic development while
sustaining the product for future generations. Speaker: Larry
Selzer, President & CEO, The Conservation Fund
3:20 - 5:00 p.m. - Resource Stewardship
Track
- Public/Private Sector Collaboration &
Resource Stewardship: Achieving a greater understanding of resource stewardship
and the importance of partnerships between the private sector and federal land
managers. Session Description: The use of public lands for tourism has grown
dramatically in recent years. The tourism industry and its private sector must
interact with federal land managers and encourage an ongoing dialogue that
promotes cooperation and mutual understanding and roles of public lands and
tourism in sustainable public use. This session will explore ways partnerships
can be established to advance a healthy and productive dialogue between the
public and private sectors and the positive implications of such partnerships
for the advancement of sustainable tourism. Speaker:
Derrick Crandall, President & CEO, American Recreation
Coalition
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- Privatization 
