Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2006 CNO
CATOOSA, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation recently hosted the first in a series of tourism conferences in the Grand Hall of the Cherokee at the Cherokee Casino Resort in an effort to brainstorm ideas with a large and diverse group of people about how to increase regional and state tourism.Entitled a “Working Conference on Cultural Tourism Development,” the meeting brought together almost 100 people, including representatives from the Oklahoma State lieutenant governor’s office as well as the Oklahoma State Department of Tourism Offices; county commissioners and city and county chambers of commerce; community organizations and associations; tourism offices from various northeastern Oklahoma counties and towns; tour operators, museums and tourism publications such as Tulsa Tourism, Casino Today magazine and Green Country Marketing; Northeastern State University and multiple Cherokee Nation offices and businesses.
“Participants’ input and support will provide the diversity of perspectives needed to strengthen the planning process. This initiative is also an invaluable opportunity to exchange ideas and learn how we can work together to help grow cultural tourism in Oklahoma,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Attendees broke up into nine work session groups of 10 to 12 individuals per group after introductions. These smaller groups brainstormed larger issues affecting tourism, including the five key issues surrounding cultural tourism in Oklahoma; whether participants’ businesses or organizations currently have a tourism plan or a comprehensive development plan that includes tourism; what groups should manage a tourism plan; what organizations lead tourism in different regions in the state; and how the Cherokee Nation can best work with different businesses, governments and organizations to grow tourism in northeastern Oklahoma.
“We were delighted with the enthusiasm and diversity of public and private sector participants from all aspects of the Oklahoma tourism industry. Working together is a vital element in building a sustainable long-term Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Development Plan. The initial conference goal to invite participants to join the Cherokee Nation in forthcoming planning sessions scheduled through the end of September of this year was met with terrific response,” said Linda Turnbull-Lewis, project manager of Cherokee Nation’s Cultural Tourism Development and Cherokee Nation Enterprises corporate consultant. “Many attending signed on to continue in the planning process to grow cultural tourism opportunities here in the Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma.”
The second working conference is scheduled for Monday, June 5, at the Cherokee Nation Tribal Complex south of Tahlequah. The conference will be held in the Health Division Conference Room in the main tribal building from 2-4 p.m. Topics to be addressed include tourism infrastructure, tourism experiences, market segments and public/private synergy and feasibility.
Subsequent meetings will be held on July 3, August 7 and September 4, all Mondays, from 2-4 p.m., at locations to be announced later. Members of the press working and writing for the states tourism industry as well as representatives from local, state, and national businesses and governments are invited to participate in these meetings.
A comprehensive Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Plan will result from this series of meetings and should be finished by September 2006. The plan will be implemented in phases beginning in 2007.
For more information on the Working Conference on Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism Development, contact Linda Turnbull-Lewis, phone: 918-458-9322 or 918-453-1932 (cell) or send Linda an e-mail. For the Cherokee Nation Tourism Planning Office, contact Carolyn Woodruff, phone: 918- 207-3954.
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |