ARC Tourism Advisory Council Meeting Summary

December 14, 2010

The ARC Tourism Advisory Council met at ARC headquarters on December 14, 2010, bringing together state and federal stakeholders in Appalachian tourism to review work completed since the group's September meeting. ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl Gohl welcomed representatives from the Appalachian states and thanked participants for their commitment to strengthening Appalachian tourism. The main agenda topic was the ongoing development of a project to strengthen tourism in Appalachia through the strategic distribution of a Civil War–themed mapguide.

"Civil War: The Home Front in Appalachia" will highlight multiple Civil War–related attractions in Appalachia by presenting the unique stories behind each destination. The mapguide coincides with the broader efforts of the National Park Service to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Civil War and is scheduled for completion by February 2011. It will be distributed via American Heritage magazine.

Council members reviewed and provided feedback on mapguide text, cartography, and photos, and discussed development of a companion Web site. Bob Jenkins of American Heritage Publishing Company confirmed the inclusion of the map in the Spring 2011 issue of American Heritage magazine, and spoke about the magazine's plans to publish an article to accompany the map and to provide associated tourism marketing services at no cost to the 13 Appalachian states.

Other items on the agenda included a discussion of events surrounding the National Park Service's commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, and promotional activities tied to the launch of the Civil War mapguide. Council members also provided updates on other tourism-related events in the 13 Appalachian states.

Meeting agenda (PDF: 100 KB)

ARC Tourism Advisory Council Members