Input from PRT students at NC State

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Hi folks... in class this week we talked about the good, bad, and ugly aspects of tourism.  As you know, a number of us are trying to find ways to make tourism helpful to the most vulnerable people in the State.  You are experts in all things North Carolinian :-), so I would ask you to please drop ideas on how we might engage poor North Carolinians in small tourism businesses - so that they can make some income and have better control over their lives.  Insightful comments will merit extra credit! 

Thanks for your help.   Duarte

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 1, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    This might be a bit off--- but a "scrap book" of poor locals that have been here for a long time. This obviously isn't a sustainable position but it would bring money to those families talked about in the book while also educating tourists about locals to the area. The book would include pictures and a history of the family; talk about what they currently do, life goals, traditions that they've been able to keep through all the modernization of our society etc. They could go on sale at tourist info booths and maybe bigger hotels (or smaller ones) could jump on the band wagon and sell them for the good of those families included in the book. I feel like books like this have been produced in more "cultured" areas but I think that it would be even more interesting to real about stuff like this in the area of NC. Not sustainable, I know, but maybe it could be a magazine series, "sponsoring" 5 families a month or something. Organizing this project would also be problematic with coming up with the funds to print the book as well as editing.
    -Emily EW PRT 152

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  2. UnknownApril 2, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    I know I am from a really small town and I have a few ideas of how to get tourists/outsiders to come & visit the town. Most small towns have farmland either on site or close by and most of the locals in my town work on a farm. We could charge tourists a fee to learn how to prune bushes/plants and how to properly plant produce so that if they ever want to have a small garden of their own they will know how to get the best looking produce without spending money on a gardener. We could teach them ways to keep weeds from growing around the plants and also how to keep hungry, annoying animals away so they won't destroy the plant. I work on a farm back home & we often have these kinds of events, but we never charge people for them. However, if we did charge tourists a fee to learn these things, it would definitely bring in extra income. And not only that but it would build community which to me is more important than any amount of money. These are just a few ideas I had! Good luck with your research! Hope our ideas are useful to you.

    -Ashlea Satterwhite PRT152

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  3. Zina_Grogg:)April 3, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    I'm not personally from North Carolina, but after thinking about different things that could be done or held, this is what I came up with as idea I think would be very beneficial for everyone that decided to come and join. The idea that I thought of is to hold almost a type of fair/farmers market where people could bring and sell produce, have shows/ or seminars (like the writer above) where they would be able to be taught different skills, where they could come and sell things they make, or old clothes or things like a garage sale. I've been to something very similar to this and where people sold everything from fireworks (in Pennsylvania) to produce or homemade jams. It was always crowded and packed with people and it was always known for its good deals. It was able to bring in people from all the surrounding areas and even places that were an hour or more away. I feel that something like this would be able to engage and benefit the community and the people that choose to sell and buy. I'm not sure if something like this is realistic but if it was able to happen, I feel like it could be a very helpful to the community.

    Something similar to that, which could be held, is a festival. I’m not exactly sure what different things (plants, skills, or values) are prominent in NC but maybe a Greek or cultural festival would be an idea as well. Where people from the area and all over can come to showcase and sell their goods and be able to generate money.

    Hopefully these are both realistic ideas that could be used or created someday in the area to help out the people in the community.

    Duarte, thank you again for coming into class and helping me/us better understand tourism and what it fully entails. I really enjoyed your class and your teaching style. I wish you the best with your research and your family:)

    Zina Grogg:) PRT152

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  4. Alex CanoutasApril 3, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    According to the US Department of Transportation, around eighty percent of Americans live in cities which means that rural areas and small towns are not the norm anymore and have great potential to attract tourists. I suggest that low income residents of North Carolina open their houses to outsiders and show them their way of life. I have friends who have traveled to many foreign countries and stayed with the locals and simply went on "adventures" with them, which were actually their day to day tasks. This can happen in NC, with city residents staying with homeowners in small towns where they can go fishing, hunting, horseback riding, hiking, mountain climbing...etc. This can expand the horizens of both parties, establish relationships and generate revenue for the NC home owners.

    I hope this helps Mr. Morais. Thank you for talking to our class!

    Web site about US populations :
    http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/census/cps2k.htm
    Alex Canoutas PRT 152 T, TH 10:15

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  5. Tyler HudsonApril 16, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    Here is an idea that I had that may make the implementation of People-First tourism more of a success. I like the idea of the smart phone app that allows customers to locate homes, farms, and small businesses that are participating in providing the tourist attractions. In addition to this, I would also suggest that app have a section to community events that are held at certain times throughout the year such as dances, and fiddler’s conventions. This may not bring income directly to the families; however, it may get the tourist in the community. Once there, the tourist is likely to use the app to find shelter, food, and entertainment following the event. Thus, an event page will indirectly contribute to additional income.

    Thank you for coming to our class,
    Tyler Hudson

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