Visitor Industry Product Development Workshop Camille Ferguson Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Economic Development Director

Visitor Industry Product Development Workshop

Camille Ferguson

Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s

Economic Development Director

Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Cultural Tour Program

Example of Cultural Tour Program Resources Needed Components Partnerships

History is not only about what happened, it is also about the present, yours and ours. We cordially invite you to experience Sitka on a Tlingit Cultural Tour! Not as an outsider looking in - but as a participant, with us, in an ancient and ever changing world.

Welcome to Sheet’ka

To present local, native culture in a positive, reinvigorated tone; resulting in tour program with an authentic perspective on the Tlingit culture, while providing economic opportunities for the native community of Sitka.

Our Mission

Local Sitka’s National

Historical Park Sitka Historical

Society St. Michaels

Russian Orthodox Church

Alaska Host Program

Sheldon Jackson Museum

Cultural Tlingit Elders Kayaani Commission Local Herbalist Southeast Alaska

Indian Cultural Center- Artist Program

STA- Traditional Foods Program

STA-Customary & Traditional Resources

Training Resources

Employment for Native Community

Profitable and Self - Sustaining Authentic Quality Tour Product Perpetuate Tlingit Culture

Business Concept

History

Culture

Landscape

Sitka Attractions

Wildlife

Adventure Fishing

More attractions..

Sitka National Historic Park Authentic Native

Dance Performance

Sheldon Jackson MuseumAlaska Raptor Center

Tour Package

Expanded service help business compete in today’s full-service market

Future profits for Tribal Citizens

Increased Employment for Tribal Citizens

To perpetuate our culture through tourism.

Create a pride among native people

Benefits

Package Product The Kuskokwim -

Bering Sea Adventure

Toksook BayDance

BirdwatchingGrass Baskets

Bethel

“Western Alaska’s Hub”

Anchorage “Gateway to Alaska”

Quinhagak

HikingFishing

Beaches

MekoryukReindeer& Musk-oxQuiviutBirds

Tourism Planning for Bethel

•Planning Group- Stakeholders

•Resources

•Planning Development

•Understanding Tourism

•Benefits of Planning

Tourism Planning Group Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Bureau City Government Village Corporations Tribal Governments Businesses Education, University State and Federal Agencies Individuals and Elders Tour Operators Cultural Organizations

Tourism Resources Cultural Programs and Interests Transportation Providers Funders Internet, on-line programs Planning tools, example: comprehensive

community planning internet resources

Tourism Planning Development Start up and Operational planning Incubator – Small or new business,

Department of Labor, others Small business training – UA Accounting Tour guiding and operators State DOLWD programs – targeted, small

business, Information about individual village- history,

cultural emphases, movement Self sustaining operation - revenue

What do Alaska Visitors Want

Wildlife Scenery Culture History Nature Fishing Adventure

Visitors want to hear, see, feel and taste their experiences

Visitors want to be connected with the people who live in Alaska.

Benefits of a Healthy Visitor Industry Planning

Increased Business Opportunities Increased Employment Opportunities Ability to Promote Development and minimize

negative affects on cultural ways, historical sensitivity and preservation allowing for local control.

Create a Sustainable Tourism base for the community that will support City Government

Community Participants

Bethel Mekoryuk Quinhagak Goodnews Bay Toksook Bay Napakiak

Community Profile 5-A’s

Access Attractions Accommodations Advertising Attitude

Sitka

Tannery Community House Store/Market Tribal Tours Rental

Cost – Artists help operational costs

Opportunities Challenges

Y/K Delta

Rivers – summer Rivers – winter History Survival Sleeping Giant Food Brochure, promotion “Delta” opportunities -

compares to Mississippi Reminds people of

Newfoundland, New Brunswick

Collecting history Lodging &

accommodations Food 9/11 Policies, governance Infrastructure See through new eyes


Y/K Delta

National Wildlife Refuge Catcher/Seller fishing

licenses Internet Language Dictionary -

common words Bragging rights Lack of infrastructure can

work to your advantage World wild web Kayaking experiences,

traditional transpo.

6 pack licenses Insurance Follow-through, delta-

wide Networking Operation costs Need a plan B –

weather, etc.


Bethel

Alaska Airlines Extra day in Bethel Airport, Air hub Local tours Air charters – flights to

check out Bethel Alaska packages

including Bethel Domestic travel

advantage, post 9/11

Reactions/Impressions (of residents)

Information at airport Trip planning

information


Bethel

Destination – cultural center, hovercraft…

Business travelers, add something fun

Companion (fare) ANHC partnership Anchorage Museum Tapes, photo’s and

films that exist KYUK videos

Negative reputation or image

Need photo’s & information

Historic preservation project

Insurance Maps and information


Bethel

AK Humanities Forum Library AVCP – Cultural Heritage

program Marketing Strategy Village dollars Hotels, restaurants Hub Fish processing/smoking –

MAP a resource

Region Artists/Artwork Saturday Market Regional Cultural

Center Sales outlets City Tourism Project –

VISTA, Chamber Transportation $

Opportunities Opportunities

Mekoryuk

Nunivak Island Sleeping Giant, we

use the whole island We have names for

the rivers Water taxi reindeer, Birds Mink

Culture camps Cruise West-Nash,

guides went on board this year

Known, reputation – use to promote region

Dance


Mekoryuk/Nunivak Island

Arts and Crafts masks Traditional knowledge

preservation Reindeer products Halibut Quiviut Humanities Forum map language


Getting artists to market, Nash

Lodging transportation Wilderness constraint Market research

Mekoryuk/Nunivak

Nunivak Island Sleeping Giant, we

use the whole island We have names for

the rivers Muskox, reindeer

hunts, Birds Mink, seals Beaches

Culture camps Cruise West-Nash,

guides went on board this year

School/senior project i.d. target market

Bethel bird (Audubon) trip to Nunivak

Science Camp Nash


Quinhagak

Fishing Hunting – birds bear

moose Seals Fish Plant 2 rivers Mountains reindeer

Transportation – to airport, etc.

Need property at airport

Dance, bringing back


Quinhagak

Potential lodging Dillingham links Togiak Refuge near Floaters Transport – airport

shuttle Coffee shop Expanded airport


Quinhagak

Road system Fishing from shore History, old village Tours, visitors from

all over are coming Diverse ecosystems,

species History, reputation –

radical Beach walks

Coffee Shop Survey-market info.

What will you tell your friends about here.


Goodnews Bay

Hills, mountains, Marine mammals Carter Bay, Chagvag Water and sewer

system improvements Togiak, 3 refuges Walrus haulouts

Training for guides 6 pack licensing Business startup Follow through,

sticking to it. Duplication of

services, avoid Networking,

coordination Insurance


Goodnews Bay

Airport Expansion Dillingham links, ERA,

Freshwater Adv Tribe interested in

developing an ecotourism business

Arts and crafts – masks, baskets

Commercial fishery Platinum (historic mining)

Bay Tour Fishing reputation (trout) Museum Dance group (travelling) Moravian youth group Kayaking, canoeing Bedrock World is getting smaller internet


Goodnews Bay

5 salmon species Take a steam

Doing business with the State, for rural, tribal developments

Networking FUEL River use impacts


Toksook Bay

Grass baskets, local artisans

Hills – skiing, recreation NO TREES Road developments

planned Etolin Strait – birds, whales Herring and halibut –

commercial Dance, cultural events,

Youth

No tourism businesses

Starting in the business

Communications between villages, with State,

Mentors Shallow water port


Toksook Bay

Arts and crafts website sales

Blackberry festival School Teacher

retreat/training Scenic, cliffs Muskox Transport opportunities Subregional clinic

Access Lodging Fuel Shelter,

communications, information at airport


Akiak

Ecotourism access Existing operation – boats,

cabins Hovercraft access River tour from Bethel Eagles, falcons, BIRDS Unique vegetation,

language Kesirolic River – special,

fragile Wild River NWR

Built it but nobody has come yet

Opposition, reservations

Operating capital Expensive transport 9/11 River use impacts

proposed hp limit


Hooper Bay

Baskets Ivory Carvers Shore, beach Lodging Fish camps 3 rivers 1200 residents Airport Water and sewer? Washeteria (sauna)


Water and sewer Fuel and Energy

costs Wildlife Refuge Communications at

airport

Hooper Bay

Fuel is available, swipe your card

Sand Dunes Wildlife Refuge 2 dance groups Spring seal hunts


Markets

Japan – students (Mt. Edgecumbe) who know japanese

Partner Package Opportunities Bethel Alaska Airlines

Frontier FS

Hotels/B&B Hovercraft Health System Museum/AK

Mekoryuk Marine Life/Shore

Reindeer industry

scenery Hunting Nash Harbor camp/tour

Quinhagak Dillingham Fish Plant CV

Fish camp

Goodnews Bay

Dillingham River Rafting

Tooksook Bay

Dance performance

scenery

Akiak

Hooper Bay Sand Dunes, Scenery

Hotel

Fish camp

Platform

AFN – pursue economic development strategy statewide

Who are my Customers?

Fisherman Birdwatchers Adventure Traveler Eco tourist Botanists

Partners for Marketing

Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau Alaska Travel Industry Association American Indian Alaska Native Tourism

Association Your Package Partners

Media

Alaska Airlines – News Story America Native News Calling- National Live

Interview Statewide News Story ATIA – New Products Travel Writers News and Press Releases

Brokers

Visitors Bureau or Chamber Tour Operators

Alaska Unusual All Alaska Tours Premier Alaska

Documents

Visitor Industry Product Development Workshop Camille Ferguson Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Economic Development Director