Sunday, September 21, 2008
Getting Off The Ground
PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — State and local leaders came together recently in Prestonsburg to discuss how to attract more visitors to the fledgling adventure tourism attractions Eastern Kentucky has to offer.Several representatives from Kentucky’s tourism industry attended the meeting, which was primarily focused on presenting ideas and input from residents of the Big Sandy area. The Big Sandy Area Development District (BSADD) held ten meetings in four counties to gather information from the public. The Big Sandy consists of Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin and Pike counties.Sandy Runyon with Big Sandy ADD, said the area hasn’t yet been exploited as a destination for adventure seekers. “We feel Eastern Kentucky has not taken advantage of the opportunity of tourism. We have one of the most beautiful areas in the world, but we don’t market that to the rest of the world to come and see us.”Denise Thomas, a Community and Economic Development Associate for BSADD, said some of the comments from area residents indicated they didn’t feel Eastern Kentucky had much to offer a tourist. But, she said, assets of the Big Sandy area include bike routes, natural bridges, hiking, biking, ATV and water trails, wild life areas, culture and historic sites.
But some people who attended the meetings said they were interested in capitalizing on adventure tourism. “Local individual participation is crucial to the success of adventure tourism as an initiative,” Thomas said. She went on to say that although the people of our area are known for their friendly nature, some training may needed in the area of professional hospitality and coordination among the different attraction areas. “Getting information in tourists’ hands about what events are taking place and what activities are taking place will take a coordinated effort from all of us,” she said.Local businessmen are also an important component to building the industry. “People with existing businesses as well as people who want to start new businesses spoke to us. Some of those businesses are guide services, livery services and equipment sales and services as well as lodging, such as cabins, bed and breakfasts and especially camping.”Sandy Runyon has been appointed to the Kentucky Recreational Trails Authority, and said the focus of area leaders up until now has been on all terrain vehicle trails. “For quite some time now, we have been talking about recreational trails as they involve ATVs,” Runyon said. “This Authority has a focus in that area, but the Authority is looking at hiking, biking, riding and all kinds of trails, including water activities like kayaking and white water rafting.” She spoke about legislation passed in the last session of the Kentucky legislature related to the use of public and private land. The new laws address the use of these lands as recreational areas.Runyon said her organization is working with other ADDs across the state to bring their trail systems together. “We have a huge mandate,” she explained. “That is to have a trail that is connected from east to west across Kentucky by 2010, when the Equestrian Games are scheduled. It’s a huge challenge.”Pike County Magistrate for District Six Chris Harris shared some information about how Pike County is developing sKYward Trails, a system which will connect with the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System.“This project started several years ago with the idea to connect on the the Hatfield-McCoy Trails. That system has been wildly successful, and we wanted to bring it into Eastern Kentucky and eventually the entire state,” Harris said. He said he hopes the new legislation will enable the county to proceed with their trail plans. “We have laid some pretty good ground work with identifying property owners and mapping,” he said.“It it always discouraging as an elected official, we want to see things done now. But some things are a slow process. We are going to hang in there, stay with it, and make sure it gets done.”
Story written by : Julia Goad Staff Writer From the Williamson Daily News.
But some people who attended the meetings said they were interested in capitalizing on adventure tourism. “Local individual participation is crucial to the success of adventure tourism as an initiative,” Thomas said. She went on to say that although the people of our area are known for their friendly nature, some training may needed in the area of professional hospitality and coordination among the different attraction areas. “Getting information in tourists’ hands about what events are taking place and what activities are taking place will take a coordinated effort from all of us,” she said.Local businessmen are also an important component to building the industry. “People with existing businesses as well as people who want to start new businesses spoke to us. Some of those businesses are guide services, livery services and equipment sales and services as well as lodging, such as cabins, bed and breakfasts and especially camping.”Sandy Runyon has been appointed to the Kentucky Recreational Trails Authority, and said the focus of area leaders up until now has been on all terrain vehicle trails. “For quite some time now, we have been talking about recreational trails as they involve ATVs,” Runyon said. “This Authority has a focus in that area, but the Authority is looking at hiking, biking, riding and all kinds of trails, including water activities like kayaking and white water rafting.” She spoke about legislation passed in the last session of the Kentucky legislature related to the use of public and private land. The new laws address the use of these lands as recreational areas.Runyon said her organization is working with other ADDs across the state to bring their trail systems together. “We have a huge mandate,” she explained. “That is to have a trail that is connected from east to west across Kentucky by 2010, when the Equestrian Games are scheduled. It’s a huge challenge.”Pike County Magistrate for District Six Chris Harris shared some information about how Pike County is developing sKYward Trails, a system which will connect with the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System.“This project started several years ago with the idea to connect on the the Hatfield-McCoy Trails. That system has been wildly successful, and we wanted to bring it into Eastern Kentucky and eventually the entire state,” Harris said. He said he hopes the new legislation will enable the county to proceed with their trail plans. “We have laid some pretty good ground work with identifying property owners and mapping,” he said.“It it always discouraging as an elected official, we want to see things done now. But some things are a slow process. We are going to hang in there, stay with it, and make sure it gets done.”
Story written by : Julia Goad Staff Writer From the Williamson Daily News.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 7:32 AM 
