8 Panhandle counties to meet for tourism summit

BLOUNTSTOWN — There’s more to Florida than white sand and emerald green water, and RiverWay South Apalachicola Choctawhatchee is trying to bring attention to the great resources offered inland.

The 2011 Rural Tourism Development Summit will bring together tourism experts and economic development players in Washington, Holmes, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson and Liberty counties this week with the hope of expanding the number of visitors to Florida’s tucked-away gems along the Apalachicola and Choctawhatchee rivers.

There are three primary categories of rural tourism — agratourism, ecotourism and cultural or heritage tourism — and all are available in the six-county region, said Jim Brooks, executive director of the Holmes County Development Commission.

The summit will include presentations on programming, public relations and promotion and is partially funded through a grant from Visit Florida to promote sustainable economic development.

“Rural tourism is considered a sustainable economic development program because it depends on natural resources to raise per capita income,” Brooks said.

Rural tourism is low-impact, meaning it does not require a heavy investment in infrastructure or the reliance on future sizable investments, RWSAC project manager Sharon Liggett said. It relies largely on businesses that already exist but need help marketing their services; places like bed and breakfasts, small eateries, historic locations, natural attractions and ecological guides.

“Tourism in Florida has been a staple for economic development for more than 100 years … but there are still so many things in Florida’s interior that people don’t know about,” Liggett said.

The summit will begin at 8 a.m. Friday at the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement on State 20 in Blountstown. The cost is $15 and guests can register at www.rwsfl.org up until the day of the event.