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Bath reviews tourist trail project idea
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
WARM SPRINGS - "I think it was very productive," said Bath county administrator Bonnie Johnson following a citizen input session last Tuesday for the proposed Alleghany Highlands Tourist Trail.
"We had several people there who have an economic interest in tourism development. They brought ideas about what might be done to improve the pull of tourism into Bath County."
Johnson mentioned a few of the many tourist attractions Bath County has to offer, such as the small villages, Douthat State Park and the scenic rural byways.
"Once you start to talk about what we have within our boundaries, you are amazed at what we have," she said.
"It was an easy meeting, everyone was pitching in with ideas," she added.
Johnson said the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, trail study sponsor, has hired the 224 Design group to prepare a marketing plan.
The trail steering committee will meet with the consultant Dec. 13 in Covington.
John Hull, Economic Resources Planner for the RVARC, facilitated a series of four county input sessions to gather information for the tourist trail study, the final input session was held in Warm Springs. Hull is studying the feasibility of a tourism trail connecting the counties of Highland, Bath, Alleghany, and Craig; city of Covington; and towns of Clifton Forge, Iron Gate, Monterey and New Castle under a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
The consultant should have a marketing plan drafted by January, with an economic impact and competitive brand analysis to follow in February, development of branding tactics in March, brand application in May, and financial plan and Web site by June.
There are two representatives from each community involved in the project. Johnson and Melinda Nichols of the Bath County Chamber of Commerce represent Bath County.
For more information on the tourism trail study and how you can participate call John Hull at (540) 343-4417 or email jhull@rvarc.org.
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