Tourism Meeting is coming up

Jim Money, Darlington County Director of Tourism has an upcoming meeting where there is a search for some public input. These planning types of meetings are important to buidling community and the press release announcing this meeting follows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DARLINGTON COUNTY INVOLVED IN TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PLAN
A public hearing regarding existing and potential tourism is scheduled for March 24th at Black Creek Arts Council in Hartsville at 6:00PM. Public involvement in the regional tourism product development plan is encouraged. Darlington County is included in the east region consisting of Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, and Williamsburg Counties.
In November 2005, New Carolina’s Tourism Cluster Committee commissioned a study by international consultant Michael Mac Nulty of Tourism Development International (TDI) in Ireland to complete a statewide Tourism Action Plan. Included in the completed plan was a call for planning at the regional level.
In 2007 the Legislature passed an appropriation for product development. A part of that money now is being used to develop detailed, long-range plans for each of the eight Tourism Product Development Areas.
The East Product Development Area (EPDA) is one of those eight designated regions. TDI team members will work with area stakeholders and SCPRT to develop a Tourism Development Concept Plan for the region.
The public forum is being held to bring together public administrators, Chamber and CVB representatives, private sector developers, visitor attraction and event organizers in the EPDA. The attendees are being asked to help the consultants get a clear understanding of the key issues and challenges that tourism faces in the EPDA. The consultants also want to learn as much as possible about the existing and potential tourism offerings throughout the EPDA.
Information regarding the state-wide effort may be obtained through the SCPRT website www.scprt.com or by contacting George Estes, Director of Operations - Heritage Tourism, Community and Economic Development (803) 734-1312, gestes@scprt.com.
For additional information on the Darlington County meeting contact Darlington County Tourism at 843-339-9511 or email darcotour@bellsouth.net.


Jim Money
Director Darlington County Tourism
PO Box 578, Hartsville, SC 29550
Phone: 843-339-9511 or 888-427-8720
Fax: 843-332-8017
Email: darcotour@bellsouth.net