Tourism promotion has been a successful strategy for building the local Asheville area economy. The establishment of the occupancy tax by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) in 1983 created a source of marketing funds that has helped create and sustain independent businesses by expanding the Asheville customer base and providing free marketing to connect visitors to local shops, restaurants, cultural experiences, events, attractions and accommodations.
Look who is counting on tourism in Asheville. Think it’s primarily lodging? Think again. The impact of visitors is more far-reaching than you might expect.
The BCTDA will provide $4.6 million to the City of Asheville to complete the southern section of the River Arts District Transportation Improvement Project (RADTIP). “The Buncombe County TDA continues to deliver on its mission to be a leader in the economic development of Buncombe County by dedicating lodging tax revenue to projects that make the community a better place to live and visit,” said Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer.
Tourism Management & Investment PlanThe Buncombe County Tourism Management & Investment Plan to Develop Community Assets (TMIP) is a collaborative process to bring public entities, tourism officials and the community together with data resources to develop a framework to guide the long-term investment of BCTDA’s Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF). The goal of the yearlong community engagement process is to better manage tourism and plan investments for the next decade, while maintaining the character and integrity of the region. The effort is being funded entirely by occupancy tax revenue, through the TPDF, paid for by overnight visitors to Buncombe County.
This originally posted in Mountain Xpress on May 19, 2019 by Kay West Eat. Play. Shop. Park. Sleep. Repeat. The core elements of the Asheville tourist experience bring $2 billion to local businesses each year and contribute $87.9 million in annual sales and property taxes to local government coffers, according to a 2017 study by […]
Tourism has been in the news a lot lately. Here at the culmination of National Tourism Week (May 5-11) and with the start of the summer travel season on the horizon, the timing feels right to shine a light on the public good that we can attribute to tourism and share the ways that lodging tax revenue will be activated to help manage impacts and plan future investments for the benefit of both Asheville area residents and visitors.
National Tourism Week is about the people in tourism—the people in our community. Every day I am inspired by local people who launch and live their dreams here, dreams that are possible because of tourism.
The May 8 cover story [“Heartbreak Hotel: Nearly 8,000 Rooms and Counting — How Much Lodging Is Too Much?” Xpress] highlighted growth in lodging tax revenue that now totals $23 million. What was not highlighted is the public good and community impact provided by investing the lodging tax to attract customers to sustain local people. […]
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) announced the formation of the Community Leadership Council at its meeting today. The group was formed to help guide the Tourism Management and Investment Plan to Develop Community Assets (TMIP) as part of an array of opportunities for public input, including an online survey for county residents, public forums to inform the process and a new website at ExploreAshevilleCVB.com/TMIP.
The Community Leadership Council (CLC) is a volunteer committee that will support the work of creating the TMIP. The group will review progress during several phases, share feedback and offer perspectives from the broader community.
The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) approved funding for a yearlong community engagement process to better manage tourism and plan investments for the next decade, while maintaining the character and integrity of the region.
The Buncombe County Tourism Management & Investment Plan to Develop Community Assets (TMIP) is a collaborative process to bring public entities, tourism officials and the community together with data resources to develop a framework to guide the long-term investment of BCTDA’s Tourism Product Development Fund (TPDF). Since its inception in 2001, the TPDF has granted $44 million to 39 projects, including sports fields, theaters, parks and greenways.
