Tourism Meeting Ignites Regional Commitment

MERIDIAN - - In an effort to create a focused push toward regional tourism, Chamber of Commerce, economic development, and tourism professionals from Alabama and Mississippi met with representatives of the West Alabama - East Mississippi (WAEM) WIRED Initiative on June 3, 2008, to discuss joining forces to form a WAEM Regional Tourism Panel.

“Connecting communities with tourism opportunities is a key factor in the WAEM Initiative,” said Bill Crawford, WAEM Initiative Director.

In May of 2007, at a summit featuring Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi and Governor Bob Riley of Alabama, representatives of 37 counties in the WAEM region selected tourism as one of three regional priorities. The WAEM Initiative has already focused on efforts to train people in the region for advanced manufacturing and entrepreneurship.  Now, the region is ready to develop strategies to increase economic tourism opportunities in West Alabama and East Mississippi.

“What will be the life blood of small town economies?” asked Crawford.  “Big factories and new plants are not going to play major roles.  Small businesses, like tourism, will be where communities increase economic strength.”

One goal of the tourism panel will be to develop strategies for job growth, entrepreneurship, and product development for the tourism industry.  By working together and combining the efforts of the various tourism agencies in the area, the WAEM Regional Tourism Panel can more efficiently and effectively promote the entire area as a tourism destination.

Phyllis Belcher, Executive Director of the Greene County Industrial Board and WAEM Commissioner, expressed her interest. “A regional tourism network is an excellent idea; one that we can make happen.  This network can help to show this region in a brighter light; which is important to all of us and our citizens.”

This open dialogue is another example of the bi-state cooperation that exists in the WAEM Region.

“We are like kin folk to each other, but we don’t always communicate,” expressed Bruce Hanson, Community Development Facilitator at East Mississippi Community College.  “One of the successes of the WAEM Initiative is breaking down the walls and talking with each other like families.  We are realizing that my town is not the only town; we have brother and sister communities in this entire WAEM region.”

Hanson’s sentiments about coming together as a region were echoed by all meeting participants.  The group agreed it is important to begin working together, and nearly all committed themselves to the panel and all agreed to share their resources. 

“The West Alabama - East Mississippi region shares a great deal of history and culture.  It only makes sense to share the promotion of our region to tourists throughout the world.”