A Tourism Destination Area delivers unique, high-quality services and experiences by building upon existing tourism infrastructure to create critical mass. The potential payoffs are substantial.

As consumers, we have too many choices and too little time. As a result, downtime and financial resources are precious commodities. A community’s effort to build a tourism destination area — like a tourist's decision to visit a particular area: both involve investments of time, money and energy. Communities and visitors share another reality: tourism destination travel is a highly competitive, global industry.

Why visit, or build, an average destination area, when only great destination areas, the ones that deliver ‘must-see’ attractions, high-quality amenities and memorable experiences, are what visitors want?

Tourism destination areas generate significant traffic and revenue growth. Creation of these areas must be a community-driven process fueled by local organizations, leaders and people who want to build on what they have — and make it better. You and your community are in control: build a tourism destination area and you will experience rewards but, first, the community desire must exist for this process to succeed.

The TDA Kit

The Tourism Destination Area (TDA) initiative allows communities to build toward increased tourism traffic and increased revenues through strategic tourism development. The TDA Kit is a tool for strategic community tourism development. It delivers the insights, resources and contacts to focus your specific goals, set specific targets and guide your community’s strategic Tourism development.

The main part of the Kit is a selfguided workbook. Use it to assess your community’s current tourism state of readiness. An important first step in any successful action plan is the ability to be realistic. Use this workbook to get a realistic gauge on what you can, and cannot accomplish; identify the strengths and weakness of your destination area. There will be gaps to fill; identifying these gaps is critical to success. Building a tourism destination area takes time and effort. Remember: you and your community are in control.

Testing Your TDA Potential
Answer these questions as a starting point to assess your community’s destination area potential:

1. Tourism destination areas have leaders — people who are actively championing a community’s potential to expand tourism revenue. Does your destination area have strong leadership?
2. Successful destination areas require resources, leadership, private sector operators and organizations willing to commit time and money to promote and develop tourism. Do you have these resources?
3. Successful, strategic tourism development requires a delicate balance, and delivers expanded tourism business, and increased traffic and revenues. A solid foundation is vital. What established infrastructure already exists in your community, on which you can build and expand?
4. Tourism destination areas offer visitors the chance to experience something unique; a must-see attraction they’ll find nowhere else. Does your destination area have unique attributes?
5. A great location is a common element among areas with tourism appeal, and tourism destination areas are well situated to serve tourists. Do you know the pros and cons of your location?
6. Tourism Destinations grow with the involvement and support of their residents. Do the residents in your community support further development of sustainable tourism?
7. Destinations that offer year round tourism products and services can attract new business. Does your community want to be open for business to visitors, year round?

What's Your Role?

Use this kit as your starting point to help build capacity in your community. Key partners and leaders in a community will drive this process. Think about the different hats you wear; consider your various roles and responsibilities, and the impact you have (or can have) in these roles. Don't wait for someone else to take the lead if you feel you have a perspective and desire that can create change. The right tools and resources, the right people and a shared focus, are all ingredients in TDA success. So, look around. Think about what you have, and want, for your community. Make a realistic assessment of related resources (including your community’s human resources).

Why Should You Do This?

Your community has the potential to increase tourism traffic and increase revenues!

Tourism Destination Area Initiative is:

• Community driven and success is derived at the community level
• Raising the bar in your community will contribute towards achieving our tourism vision
• Enabling communities to generate additional revenue through tourism destination development
• A process not a program

For more information on this initiative contact:
Tourism Development
Tel 902.424.3908
Email