Local officials are trying to envision the hills, woods, rivers, and mountains of Carter County for outdoor tourism, and in the process, recruit more visitors to the area.
As Elizabethton and Carter County struggle to fill the void left by industry, the community is taking a radical approach by highlighting the natural assets of the area, such as whitewater rafting, trout fishing, and hiking mountain trails.
The Northeast Tennessee region is viewing tourism as just one part of diversifying the area’s economy rather than the solution itself. This week the Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership announced the inaugural Meet the Mountains Festival, which will take August 24-25 and will include Carter, Washington, and Unicoi counties. The goal is to expose people to towns like Elizabethton, Unicoi, Erwin, and Roan Mountain and the outdoor adventures that await them there. In addition to hiking, fishing, boating, and rafting, some of the other adventures include caving and stand-up paddling full moon tours.
The festival is designed to showcase to visitors what the region has to offer as far as natural resources and outdoor events.
Carter County is an outdoorsman’s paradise. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Whether your outdoor sport of choice is biking, hiking, or horseback riding, the rolling hills, long trails or Watauga Lake, Carter County will not disappoint. Visitors can fish in a calm, beautiful lake, canoe or raft on the Watauga River, or hike on the Appalachian Trail.
It has been provided that nature-based tourism can contribute to regional economies and help develop rural areas. According to information from the Tennessee Department of Tourism, Tennessee is collecting 19 tax dollars for every $1 spent on advertising the Tennessee brand.
It wasn’t that long ago that recreation wasn’t able to stand with major industries when it came to lobbying for beneficial public land policies. Recreation was a secondary consideration, something to be protected, sure, but not necessarily something to augment or rely on for revenue. That’s changing.
We are very much an attraction. The lakes, mountains, and rivers have become a part of the lifestyle of local residents, but we are also a destination region. People from all over are visiting the Northeast Tennessee region.
The Tennessee Department of Tourism’s economic impact report from 2016 revealed the eight counties representing Northeast Tennessee generated an $800 million economic impact to the region from domestic travel. The counties of Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington had increases in overall economic impact from previous years. The report sparked the push for new outdoor recreation opportunities for thriving with new businesses, young families and growing budgets that support things such as bike trails and whitewater parks.
In addition, it opens up avenues for other new businesses, such as providing meals and lodging for adventure travelers, or selling them handmade arts and crafts.
Our area continues to grow as a top destination for business and leisure travel each year. Jobs are being created, tourist related businesses and programs are being developed, and the community is feeling the positive impact of each dollar spent by folks visiting our region.
Truly, we need to put the welcome mat out for our visitors. It’s more dollars for our community.