The Kerr-Tar Regional Tourism Plan brought together tourism and cooperative extension leaders from the five counties-Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren, to collaborate on tourism efforts that will increase tourism for the whole region.
The plan was written with the input of all five counties' tourism development authorities,
planners and community members who identified what has worked in the past, what the
gaps are in tourism and how to make visitors stay longer in the area.
The plan focuses on key visitor markets such as I-85 Travelers, Regional Visitors,
Families with Children as well as foodies and ways to attract each market using a mix of
targeted marketing and storytelling. During the process and through visioning exercises,
five goals were created that aim to:
● Establish & Strengthen Regional Tourism Products
● Promote Regional Tourism Image
● Engage & Educate Local Stakeholders
● Make Data-Driven Tourism Decisions
● Regional Networking & Collaboration.
Each goal and its objectives, serves as a guide to grow tourism in the Kerr-Tar region,
with actionable priorities organized by quarter in the first year, including examples like
regional itineraries, linked trails and attractions, and coordinated marketing to get the
plan underway and the counties working together on their tourism initiatives.