357: Capitalizing on Hiking Trails to Drive Tourism in Morehead with Joy Brown
Dec 10, 2024
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Joy Brown, the Executive Director of Morehead-Rowan County Tourism, shares insights on leveraging hiking trails to enhance tourism in Morehead, Kentucky. She discusses the community's unique appeal and the collaboration with local airlines to attract tourists seeking outdoor adventures. Joy emphasizes the importance of educating locals about the spending power of hikers and shares innovative approaches, including the use of AI tools to track tourism data. The conversation highlights balancing economic growth with maintaining the area's natural charm.
Morehead has leveraged its location within the Daniel Boone National Forest to significantly enhance local economic development and attract tourists.
Innovative marketing strategies, including AI technology for tracking visitor trends, have been pivotal in promoting tourism and engaging with potential residents.
Deep dives
Highlighting Moorhead's Unique Appeal
Moorhead is characterized as a quaint college town surrounded by natural beauty, including the Daniel Boone National Forest and Cave Run Lake, which is known for fishing. Joy Brown, the Executive Director of Moorhead Tourism, emphasizes the town’s southern hospitality, where everyone is regarded as a friend and visitor, making it an inviting destination for tourists. The presence of Moorhead State University not only draws students but also fosters a close-knit community that supports local tourism initiatives. With a focus on outdoor recreation and the arts, Moorhead offers diverse experiences for visitors, encouraging both locals and guests to engage with what the town has to offer.
Tourism Growth Through Community Engagement
The tourism economy in Moorhead has seen significant growth, particularly during the pandemic, when many sought outdoor experiences away from screens. Remarkably, the town experienced a $9 million increase in economic impact, culminating in a total of $57 million, signaling the residents recognized the importance of tourism. Joy mentions the strategic efforts to engage with potential tourists through outreach at travel shows, revealing that many locals initially hoped to keep Cave Run Lake a hidden gem. This active engagement and shift in mindset among residents have been crucial for fostering a supportive atmosphere for tourism development.
Innovative Marketing Strategies for Future Growth
Joy highlights the use of innovative marketing tactics to attract visitors and retain talent in Moorhead, with a focus on leveraging ARPA funding to engage college students and their families. The community has developed initiatives to inform potential residents about local internship opportunities and increased job prospects in high-paying sectors, resulting in a 20% retention rate among graduates. Additionally, they are implementing AI technology like Placer to track visitor trends from nearby airports, ensuring the town is positioned as a desirable stop for travelers. This strategic approach fosters long-term tourism while capitalizing on unique attractions like the Sheltowee Trace National Recreation Trail, promoting the town as a hub of outdoor activities.
On today's episode of The Destination Marketing Podcast, Adam is still on-location at the Kentucky Travel Industry Annual Conference. Joy Brown, the executive director of Morehead-Rowan County Tourism in Kentucky, joins the show to discuss Morehead's appeal as a destination and a few ongoing tourism and economic development initiatives in the destination. She highlights how Morehead utilized its location within the Daniel Boone National Forest to drive economic development in their destination. Later in the episode, Joy also touches on a campaign that they're trying with a local airport and how they've been using an AI Tool to collect data points from the campaign.
"We had to educate our local community and market that you might see somebody that might be a little scruffy when they come off the trail, but they have all their vacation money in their backpack and they're ready to spend it in our town." - Joy Brown
To learn more about the Destination Marketing Podcast network and to listen to our other shows, please visit www.thedmpn.com. If you are interested in joining the network, please email adam@relicagency.com.
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