NEWS INFORMATION FROM |
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THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED |
FOR IMMEDIATE USE |
MAYOR INVITES CITIZEN INPUT FOR NEW CITY TOURISM PLAN AT PUBLIC SESSION SLATED FOR WED., OCT 5. AT 7 P.M. AT HILTON HOTEL RMayor Stephen R. Reed today announced that a public meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 5, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel and Towers, to seek citizen input and commentary on city tourism issues. The public session will be facilitated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which was selected earlier this year to develop a strategic long-term city tourism plan. Reed said anyone with an interest in tourism development in Harrisburg is invited to attend the session, and provide input on tourism issues affecting the city. The public meeting is an important part of an extensive study by the National Trust of city tourism destinations and activities that will culminate in a comprehensive tourism development master plan for Pennsylvania’s Capital City. The Mayor established a provisional city tourism commission last year to undertake the rigorous process of selecting a national consultant to do the study, and then work closely with the firm to conduct the citywide research and planning effort. The firm has been extensively engaged since, gathering hundreds of visitor surveys, conducting one-on-one interviews with scores of midstate tourism industry professionals, securing ‘Best Practices’ information and much more. Reed said the reasons for conducting the study are to further define and develop tourism activities in the city, and to help enhance city tourism marketing efforts. Tourism is Pennsylvania’s second largest industry and has become a major economic development contributor to Harrisburg that today draws in excess of 3 million people a year to city events, attractions, restaurants and more. The Mayor said there are four specific goals for the study: (1) determine the feasibility of ideas offered through a public input process and from tourism professionals and consultants; (2) link heritage tourism initiatives to the broader economic development of the city and to create synergy between tourism, tourism- related facilities and other local businesses, residents and jobs; (3) identify timelines and goals for enhancing, expanding and marketing the city’s tourism product and (4) establish ways and means to achieve the goals. Reed said that the public meeting is one of the final steps in the information gathering phase of the project, after which the National Trust will collate and analyze the data accumulated for inclusion in their final report. The comprehensive tourism master plan is expected to be completed by the end of the year. |
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