Nature tourism is a natural extension of agritourism. Many of our farms are more than cropland. They’re wooded. They have ponds. How many of our farms are home to deer and other wildlife? The goal of this workshop is to help you start or expand a rural tourism business, whether the focus is nature, agriculture, history or even culture. You’ll also learn how to enhance or expand hunting operations—or maybe you want to set up blinds for photographers. You’ll leave with a written operations plan, marketing plan, and financial projections for your new or expanding business. This is a practical workshop with real life examples. Participants will also learn proven coalition building and marketing techniques that will benefit their own farms and ranches as well as local economic and community development organizations. You’ll hear case studies that will highlight successful multi-community tourism coalitions and how those communities have accomplished together what they could not have individually.

Who Should Attend:

- Anyone interested in starting a Nature Tourism business.
- Anyone interested in further developing an existing Nature Tourism Business
- Anyone interested in forming a successful multi-community Nature Tourism development and marketing coalition

Who are the Instructors?

This program is based on years of experience gained in working with communities and individual landowners around the state.  Extension Agent Jed Elrod and Consultant Loy Sneary have extensive experience in enterprise and community level tourism, and community and economic development.

How This Is Different:

Attendees who fully participate will be able to go away with a written operations plan, marketing plan, and financial projection for their own enterprise.  On-line information for additional support will also be available from Texas Cooperative Extension.

Jed Elrod's Bio

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