County takes first step as member of state-supported coalition
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Several weeks ago, Marion County Economic Development Council approved a $200 expenditure to secure a page on the website of the Flint Hills Tourism Coalition which was organized in 2004.
The website still is under development and not yet open to the public.
The area being promoted by the coalition includes most of Marion County.
The group's efforts are being supported and encouraged by the state after authorization of a special tourism study which revealed the Flint Hills as having the most potential for a sustained, comprehensive tourism industry.
Flint Hills Tourism Coalition's goal is to market the region as rich in nature, history, and culture, and to attract visitors for short-term stays. It's called "experiential" tourism.
Government officials view tourism as a means to bring increased economic activity to local communities and businesses.
The coalition encompasses 22 counties from Oklahoma to Nebraska and is well-organized. An executive council of 22 members, one from each county, meets monthly to make decisions. Each county has just one vote.
Lynn Unruh, co-owner of NorthShore GuestHouse, 1475 240th, Marion, has been attending meetings voluntarily as an interested person from Marion County.
Unruh sees the coalition website as an excellent way to market the area to outsiders.
"If you don't have a presence on the web, you aren't in the ball game," she said.
She noted the Flint Hills are listed among Yahoo's top 10 travel destinations.
She has been providing information about and soliciting support for the coalition from the county. Commissioners are reluctant to commit funds because in 2004 they authorized expenditure of up to $2,000 to support a local attempt to establish an agri-tourism coalition in the area, but the effort fizzled out.
Unruh agrees the county needs to take a wait-and-see attitude before plunging ahead with a $5,000 investment in the coalition, which the group is seeking from each of the 22 counties.
Margo Yates and Jami Williams of Marion and Jessica Gilbert of Ramona joined Unruh in a task force to pick the top five places in the county as tourist destinations.
These five sites, as yet unrevealed, will be listed on the website and will operate as springboards to other sites of interest in the county, as well as providing information about eating and lodging opportunities.
Flint Hills Tourism Coalition plans to promote itself using a logo and tagline it has developed: Kansas Flint Hills: The Grassroots of America.
The organization has information on more than 450 attractions to be developed and/or marketed through the website, other media outlets, and brochures.
It looks to the communities within the coalition to improve travel, and diversify and improve the goods and services provided locally.
Five regional tours will be marketed through the Kansas Lottery beginning in October.
For more information on experiential tourism, visit www.fermatainc.com/kansas/index.html.
