Miss., Ala. Conference Aims to Build Rural Tourism

GREENWOOD, Miss. (Press Release) — A conference planned to better equip economic development officials to promote rural tourism opportunities has an educational lineup worthy of a festival.

The Mississippi-Alabama Rural Tourism Conference will be Oct. 20-22 in Greenwood, Mississippi. In addition to workshops, the conference includes a mystery tour, Delta-style catfish dinner and tailgate party at the Alluvian Hotel.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Mississippi Main Street Association and Mississippi Development Authority Division of Tourism are part of a long list of sponsors and partners in this outreach program.

Rachael Carter, a specialist with the MSU Extension Center for Government and Community Development, said the conference will allow participants to learn techniques and trends in the tourism industry.

“This conference is designed for anyone interested in growing tourism in their areas and helping small towns with community and economic development,” Carter said. “Experts will speak on building a brand, downtown revitalization, music tourism, creating small-town festivals and sports tourism in small towns.”

Recognizing that tourism is a vital part of a community’s economic development, the Mississippi-Alabama Rural Tourism Conference is a collaborative effort focused on helping small communities bolster tourism. This annual conference is hosted alternately by Mississippi and Alabama.

Register for the conference, find the agenda and get more information at http://www.almsruraltourism.com. Register by Oct. 20 for an early-bird discount.