Progress 06/01/08 to 05/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The project was divided into two main efforts. First, research was conducted to examine the economic impact of rural tourism, specifically nature-based tourism. Second, an online interactive data retrieval system was developed to assist communities with strategic planning. The database can be found online at http://ateotia.cc.ndsu.nodak.edu/StrategicPlanning/index.php. The system provided search capabilities for community leaders to examine what strategic planning efforts had been conducted in communities throughout North Dakota. Findings and conclusions from these efforts were disseminated in a variety of ways including presentations at national meetings, articles published in refereed journals, technical reports, briefs, and discussions at pubulic forums. There were two notable outputs. First, research findings from the tourism economic impact analysis were reported at two National Tourism Extension Conferences. Presenting research findings at national conferences will enable other research and extension professionals to apply finding where applicable and research methods in other states to quantify the economic effects associated with rural tourism. Findings were also used by several tourism non-governmental organizations to demonstrate that tourism can have a positive economic impact and to support their legislation initiatives. The study has raised awareness of tourism as an economic engine for rural communities in North Dakota. The second notable output was a stakeholders survey regarding community strategic planning. This report outlines community leaders' views on how the state can best assist them in providing tools, assistance efforts, and search capabilities to best advance their community development efforts. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Richard Rathge, Dr. Larry Leistritz, Nancy Hodur, Kathy Tweeten, Karen Olson, Randal Coon, Dean Bangsund, Kara Wolfe, Ramona Danielson, Kendra Erickson. Partner organizations included: North Dakota Department of Commerce, North Dakota Nature and Rural Tourism Association, and West River Toursim Council. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience included policy makers, community leaders, state agencies, NDSU Extension, planners, community developers, and the general public. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major changes we made to this research.
Impacts
The impact of this research effort is largely twofold. First, it demonstrates that rural tourism can play an important role in economic development in North Dakota. Findings from intercept surveys at three of the more popular heritage sites in the state, Medora, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and the International Peace Gardens reveal a significant economic benefit to the local communities. The total economic contribution of $34.7 million represents all expenditures by non-local visitors to the heritage and cultural tourism study locations. Motivation for visiting was used to differentiate all expenditures from direct economic impacts or "new money" thus eliminating any substitution effects. These impacts were estimated at $21.4 million. While these numbers may not be large in relation to the statewide economy,(2009 sales for final demand of $28 billion) the economic activity generated by visitors is substantial when the size and characteristics of the economies of the communities' home to the heritage and cultural tourism study location is taken into consideration. The communities are rural and sparsely populated (populations range from 100 to 2,900) with correspondingly limited economies (partial shopping center, full convenience center and hamlet). While not all expenditures by non-local resident may represent "new dollars" to the larger state economy, they are "new dollars" to the local business and are an important part of the economic activity in rural communities. These result have influenced legislative initiatives including efforts to increase state funding for tourism promotion and enhanced insurance affordability by the North Dakota Nature and Rural Tourism Association and the West River Tourism Council. The tourism division of the North Dakota Department of Commerce used the findings to gain additional state funding for cooperative cost-sharing efforts with local groups for marketing and advertising. The second significant impact was increased dialogue and attention given to community strategic planning as a result of the interactive database and the corresponding survey of stakeholders. The interactive community strategic planning database provides community leaders the ability to search 78 community strategic plans representing 128 participating geographies within North Dakota. The database covers four main topics, community development, economic development, emergency management, and natural resources. It is divided into 12 subtopics including housing, recreation, infrastructure, education, health, transportation, technology, senior services, promoting a sense of community, leadership, city promotion, and child care. Survey results from small community stakeholders reinforce the need for innovative strategies such as the interactive database in order to leverage resources and knowledge skill sets. On average, respondents indicated that a strategic planning database will increase information sharing and collaboration among communities. They also pointed out that community officials would be comfortable in assisting with updating the database base in order to make it timely and self-sustaining.
Publications
- Erickson, Kendra and Ramona Danielson. 2011. North Dakota Strategic Planning Database Website, 2011 Survey of Stakeholders. North Dakota State Data Center, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota.
- Hodur, Nancy M. 2011. Characteristics and Economic Impacts of Visitors to Heritage and Cultural Tourism Attractions in North Dakota. National Extension Tourism Conference, March 9-11, Charleston, SC.
- Hodur, Nancy M., and F. Larry Leistritz. 2009. Measuring Tourisms Economic Effects, A Comparison of Methodologies. National Extension Tourism Conference, July 14-17, Park City, UT.
- Wolfe, Kara, F. Larry Leistritz and Nancy M. Hodur. 2009. Are all Heritage and Cultural Visitors of Equal Value International CHRIE 64th Annual Conference. E Christour (Ed.). Richmond, VA ICHRIE. Abstracts available on CD-ROM.
- Hodur, Nancy M., Kara Wolfe, and F. Larry Leistritz. 2008. Motivations and Economic Impact of Visitors to North Dakota, presented at the 2008 Southwest Regional Science Association, annual meeting, March 27-29, Arlington, VA.
- Tweeten, Kathleen, Larry Leistritz, and Nancy M. Hodur. 2008. Growing Rural Tourism Opportunities, Journal of Extension Volume 46 No 2.
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Progress 06/01/09 to 05/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The project was divided into two main efforts. First, research was conducted to examine the economic impact of rural tourism, specifically nature-based tourism. Second, in order to advance community strategic planning, we designed a interactive data retrieval system that can be shared with community leaders. Our research findings have been distributed through reports and staff papers and made available on-line. Our community strategic planning data base has been made available on-line and is available at http://ateotia.cc.ndsu.nodak.edu/StrategicPlanning/. In addition, findings have been shared with professional peers through presentations at professional meetings. The value of our efforts also have been presented to state and local officials at conferences and planning meetings. State and local decision makers interest in our findings has prompted project team members to be invited to make presentations to local, regional, and statewide groups. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Richard Rathge, Dr. Larry Leistritz, Nancy Hodur, Kathy Tweeten, Karen Olson, Randal Coon, Dean Bangsund, Kara Wolfe, Ramona Danielson. Partner organizations included: North Dakota Department of Commerce, North Dakota Nature and Rural Tourism Association, and West River Tourism Council. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience included policy makers, community officials, state agencies, NDSU Extension, and the general public PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The impact of this research effort has been considerable. The research has demonstrated that visitors to heritage and cultural events and attractions is an important component of the growing tourism market in the state. This market offers unique opportunities for many rural areas of the state that are attempting to diversify and expand their economic development strategies. Research using intercept surveys at Medora, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, and the International Peace Garden indicate that, on average, visitors spent 11 nights away from home during their visit. In addition, they noted that they typically took 3 to 4 shorter getaway trips, on average within the state. The majority of visitors were not from North Dakota, thus bringing in new money to the state. Most visitors had had been to the attractions previously, and almost all indicated a high likelihood that they would return within a year. The economic benefits of this rural tourism sector has been incorporated into NDSU Extension programming. The ND Nature and Rural Tourism Association used the findings to support their legislative initiatives to increase state funding for tourism promotion and enhance insurance affordability. The West River Tourism Council used the research to support their proposals for enhanced state funding for promotion, as well as to support state hunting access programs. Additionally, the Director of the ND Department of Commerce, Tourism Division used the findings to support a request for additional state support for cooperative marketing efforts (i.e., the state would cost-share with local groups for advertising). The requested funding was received. Moreover, the findings of this research has led to increased recognition by legislators, key officials (e.g., ND Commissoner of Commerce), and local decision makers of the key role tourism can play in rural economic development. A corresponding possitive impact has been found on the efforts to improve community strategic planning. An increasing number of requests have been made by state and local officials to have material presented to their communities and community decision makers regarding strategic planning.
Publications
- Rathge, Richard. 2010. An Update of Changes in U.S. Census Data for Community Planning, North Dakota Planning Conference, Grand Forks, North Dakota, October.
- Rathge, Richard. 2010. Challenges and Opportunities for the Fargo-Moorhead Area, Community Leaders Forum and Otto Bremer Foundation Trustees, Fargo, North Dakota, May.
- Rathge, Richard. 2009. Demographic Overview for Strategic Planning, Hazen Community Planning Meeting, Hazen, North Dakota, June.
- Wolfe, Kara L., Nancy M. Hodur, and F. Larry Leistritz. 2009. Visitors to North Dakota Heritage and Cultural Tourism Sites: Visitor Profile, Motivation, Perceptions, and Family Decision Making. AAE Rpt. No. 644. Fargo: NDSU Department of Agribusiness & Applied Economics.
- Nancy M. Hodur and F. Larry Leistritz. 2009. Measuring Tourisms Economic Effects: A Comparison of Methodologies and their Applications, National Extension Tourism Conference: The Tourism Connection, Park City, Utah, June.
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Progress 06/01/08 to 05/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Research findings have been reported in scientific journals, at professional conferences through research presentations, and to the public via conferences and workshops. In addition, data from this project have been disseminated in poster presentations and through public meetings. The audience includes community leaders, state leaders, non-profit organizations, and the scientific community. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. Richard Rathge, Dr. Larry Leistritz, Nancy Hodur, Kathy Tweeten, Karen Olson, Randal Coon, Dean Bangsund, Kara Wolfe, Ramona Danielson. Partner organization included: North Dakota Department of Commerce, North Dakota Nature and Rural Tourism Association, and West River Tourism Council. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience included policy makers, community officials, state agencies, NDSU Extension, and the general public. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major problems to be resolved.
Impacts
The impact of this project continues to be significant. Study findings have indicated that tourism can have a very positive economic impact on the North Dakota economy, and particularly for the state's rural communities. This in turn has led to additional state resources being allocated to tourism promotion. NDSU Extension continues to use our research findings in their programming. Our findings have had an important impact on increasing state funding for tourism promotion, especially through the North Dakota Nature and Rural Tourism Association, the West River Tourism Council, and the Tourism Division at the North Dakota Department of Commerce. In addition, the project has resulted in greater recognition of rural tourism as an economic development option by state decision makers. We have gained national exposure through our presentations at regional and national meetings such as the National Extension Tourism conference. Our research efforts have been used to provide the scientific basis for additional funded activities such as examining ways to better market communities to attract and retain rural workers, funded by USDA. Finally, our findings of the limited staff and skill sets among rural community developers initiated our efforts in developing an online database for community strategic plans. This effort is reshaping future directions for community planning.
Publications
- Leistritz, F. Larry, and Randal C. Coon. 2008. Socioeconomic Impacts of Developing Wind Energy in the Great Plains, Great Plains Research 19:3-12.
- Hodur, Nancy M., and F. Larry Leistritz. 2009. Economic Impacts of Biofuel Development, in AgMRC Renewable Energy Newsletter, February. http://www.agmrc.org.
- Leistritz, Larry, and Nancy Hodur. 2009. Local and Regional Economic Impacts of Biofuel Development, pp. 167-176 in Transition to the Bioeconomy: Impacts on Rural Development and the Environment, M. Khanna, ed. Oak Brook, IL: Farm Foundation.
- Leistritz, F. Larry. 2009. Socioeconomic Impacts of Developing Wind Energy, in AgMRC Renewable Energy Newsletter, July.
- Leistritz, F. Larry, and Dean A. Bangsund. 2009. Economic Impact of Cankdeska Cikana Community College on the North Dakota Economy. AAE09001. Fargo: NDSU Department of Agribusiness & Applied Economics.
- Bangsund, Dean A., and F. Larry Leistritz. 2009. Petroleum Industrys Economic Contribution to North Dakota in 2007. AAE Rpt. No. 639. Fargo: NDSU Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics.
- Bangsund, Dean A., and F. Larry Leistritz. 2009. Petroleum Industrys Economic Contribution to North Dakota in 2007. AAE Rpt. No. 639-S. Fargo: NDSU Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics.
- Coon, Randal C., and F. Larry Leistritz. 2009. Estimating North Dakotas Economic Base. AAE Rpt. No. 643. Fargo: NDSU Department of Agribusiness & Applied Economics.
- Coon, Randal C., and F. Larry Leistritz. 2009. The North Dakota Economy: Trends in Selected Indicators. AAE Statistical Rpt. No. 59. Fargo: NDSU Department of Agribusiness & Applied Economics.
- Wolfe, Kara L., Nancy M. Hodur, and F. Larry Leistritz. 2009. Visitors to North Dakota Heritage and Cultural Tourism Sites: Visitor Profile, Motivation, Perceptions, and Family Decision Making. AAE Rpt. No. 644. Fargo: NDSU Department of Agribusiness & Applied Economics.
- Tweeten, Kathleen, Larry Leistritz, and Nancy Hodur. 2008. Growing Rural Tourism Opportunities, Journal of Extension 46 (2): article No. 2FEA2.
- Leistritz, F. Larry, and Nancy M. Hodur. 2008. Biofuels: A Major Rural Economic Development Opportunity, Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biorefining 2:501-504.
- Leistritz, F. Larry. 2008. Impact Assessment, pp. 501-504 in Encyclopedia of Rural America. Millerton, NY: Grey House Publishing.
- Hodur, Nancy M., and F. Larry Leistritz. 2008. Estimating the Economic Impact of Event Tourism: A Review of Issues and Methods, pp. 63-79 in Developing a Successful Infrastructure for Convention and Event Tourism, Robert R. Nelson, ed. New York: The Haworth Press.
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