Tourism and Economic Development – A Multi-Regional Project

The Multi-Regional International Visitor Program (IVLP), "Tourism and Economic Development", brought together 23 industry experts and government officials from all over the world to examine strategies and policies to promote tourism. They were also able to examine concepts of sustainable tourism and explore current trends in the industry such as cultural tourism, food tourism, and heritage tourism. The participants traveled to cities across the U.S. including Washington, DC; Boston, MA; Burlington, VT; Concord, NH; Bar Harbor, ME; Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM; and Seattle, WA.

Highlights in Washington included a keynote address from Dr. Kristin Lamoreaux, Associate Dean of the Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality and Tourism at New York University; a meeting with the Department of Commerce's National Travel and Tourism Office; and a workshop dedicated to building social media capacity under the guidance of Ms. Lily Ciric Hoffman. The participants then traveled to Boston, where they were able to meet with representatives from the Freedom Trail Foundation, Boston University's Sustainable Economic Development via Tourism program, and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Hospitality and Tourism Leadership Council.

From Boston the group split into three smaller groups to visit Burlington, Concord, and Bar Harbor. Each city stop set up meetings to cover specific themes including access for people with disabilities, ecotourism, and attracting visitors to rural areas. Each group also enjoyed home hospitality before traveling to Albuquerque and Santa Fe where they learned about cultural/culinary tourism, cultural preservation, and workforce development. A major highlight included a Native American culinary program organized by the Feasting Place, which involved hands on traditional cooking and hospitality. The final stop in Seattle offered the opportunity to meet with representatives from Expedia, the Seattle International Film Festival, and the Port of Seattle.

Participants eating a meal at Quincy Market in Boston, Massachusetts

Participants eating the fruits of their labor at The Feasting Place in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Group photo following a session with The Feasting Place in Santa Fe, New Mexico

The products of a long day of baking with The Feasting Place in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Participants taking part in an organized Home Hospitality visit in Bar Harbor, Maine

Participants created this graphic following their Home Hospitality session in Bar Harbor, Maine

Participants from Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Territories taking a look at a couple of USA Travel Brochures after meeting with Brand USA

Participants after their tour of Capitol Hill concluded

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