The Greene County Chamber of Commerce was recognized at the 2015 Iowa Tourism Conference for completing its County Tourism Asset inventory. The county inventory was conducted as part of the Iowa Tourism Industry Sector Plan, a statewide planning process designed to develop a shared vision and plan to maintain, and grow, Iowa’s competitive position as a destination.
The Greene County inventory was completed by Angie Pedersen late last winter while she was chair of the Chamber’s tourism committee as a Chamber board member. She has since been hired by the Chamber as its first tourism and events coordinator.
The inventory is designed to quantify tourism assets in Iowa. Information collected for the inventory focused on tourism services, lodging, meeting facilities, shopping, attractions, arts and entertainment, agri-tourism and culinary, nature, trails, recreation and sports, along with any plans for expansion or new projects over the next three years.
The asset inventory will be used to identify strengths and potential opportunities within various sectors of the tourism industry. The plan sets the stage for tourism industry stakeholders to join together to strengthen Iowa’s tourism product by growing and fully utilizing tourism assets; to work in collaboration and pool resources to strengthen Iowa’s tourism marketing; and to work to build broad appreciation and support for the tourism industry as a major economic driver for Iowa.
According to the Impact of Travel on Iowa Counties, tourism is an $8 billion-plus industry in Iowa and supports an estimated 66,500 jobs. It generated a total of $347.7 million in tax revenues in 2014.
