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" a path interspersed with planned wilderness communities where
people could go to renew themselves"
" to seek respite from an increasingly industrialized, urbanized society.
ATC
Last year, more than 6,200 volunteers contributed over 220,000 hours to Trail maintenance projects.
Economic Impact of the A.T.
!2 million recreation visits annually!$125 168 million annual spending! $27 million spending in local
communities!626 jobs supported by trail-related
tourism
J.M. Bowker, S.J. Zarnoch, H. Ken Cordell USDA FS; Neelam Poudyal, Gary Green UGA; Matt Owens GA DNR. Presented as preliminary findings at 20th American Trails National Symposium in Chattanooga, TN, November 14-17, 2010
How the Trail Benefits Communities
Protecting Natural Resources:vital habitat corridors, species diversity, ecosystem services that citizens depend on such as watershed, air quality, foodsheds and even medicine
Protecting Rural Character and Place: ridgelines, river corridors, visual relief by framing neighborhoods in the face of sprawl, preserving farmland (e.g. in PA)
Healthier lifestyles:encouraging hiking, walking, jogging from a close location, positive life-long exercise and experience, free!
Education:citizen scientists, outdoor classrooms, experiential learning, teaching stewardship
Enhanced quality of life for residents
Ecosystem Management Restoration
Employment opportunities for ecosystem management and monitoring,
Increase the work force of communities to accomplish ecological restoration activities like non-native invasive species control, prescribed fire, timber stand improvements, and biomass thinning
Job training opportunities for young adults
Providing high quality experiential education
Media Support: guidebooks, web mapping, etc..
National NetworkLogo Usage and brandingSignageIncreased Recognition and VisibilityTeacher EligibilityIncreased Environmental Stewardship
Appalachian Trail Community Benefits
Unicoi County
Sustainable Tourism Initiative
Hiking Trails info
Festival
Increased land manager
and community partnership
Outcomes and Successes, example
Asset Based Action Plans
1) Recreational activities at Rocky Fork 2) Programming showcasing the new TN Welcome Center 3) Cultural Asset guidelines booklet 4) Commercial Services through beautification plan 5) Marketing plan for natural resources
Entrepreneurs Workshop
Regional economic analysisBusiness planning Financial Strategies and resourcesCase studies
Unicoi Already Attracts Tourists
3,600 Hikers visit Unicoi each year
28,000 Boaters visit Unicoi 50,000 Anglers live within an
hourMany More____________________________________________________TOURISM IMPACTS on UNICOI County:
Source: Upper Nolichucky River Watershed Resource Benefit Study, Equinox Environmental Consultation, May 2005
Local Taxes:$620,000
Employment:74 Jobs
Local Taxes:$620,000
2008 Tourist ExpendituresSelected TN & NC Counties
County / State 2008 Tourist Expenditures($ million)
Washington Co., TN $197.37 million
Avery Co., NC $89.76 million
Greene Co., TN $71.83 million
Carter Co., TN $31.27 million
Madison Co., NC $29.26 million
Yancey Co., NC $26.33 million
Mitchell Co., NC $19.86 million
Unicoi Co., TN $7.62 million
Source: TN Dept. of Tourist
Development & U.S. Travel
Association; NC Dept. of
Commerce, Tourism Division
Economic Benefit Could Be Higher
! Unicoi receives an estimated $12.1 M annual economic benefit from nature-based recreation
! Economic Impact from Recreational Users in Unicoi Could Increase by 39%
! With planning, promotion, and partnerships built from asset-mapping plans
! With growing of Appalachian Trail Community Network (now 24 Communities) and
! Growing destination packages to an national and international market of Voluntourists.
Source: Upper Nolichucky River Watershed Resource Benefit Study
Julie Judkins, ATC [email protected]
The Mountains are calling, and I must go.John Muir
Join the Journey