NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
November 18, 1999
In recent years an increasing number of Americans have been heading to the hills ... and to the mountains and to the lakes and to other areas of scenic beauty to live their lives. But while natural amenities can influence where people want to live, tourists may be attracted to a specific area or region of the country for an entirely different reason, according to a study by the USDA's Economic Research Service.
"While some tourism involves travel to places that are attractive for residence, tourism also involves travel to places that are seasonally attractive or somehow unique," says David. A. McGranahan, a USDA economist and the study's author.
McGranahan's findings are good news for North Dakota, says Kathleen Tweeten, community economic development specialist with the North Dakota State University Extension Service. The research shows that about 20 percent of the counties tourists visit for recreational purposes are in the bottom half of counties in terms of the six natural amenities studied. In other words, offer tourists something unusual or unique, and they may come, even if they perceive the attraction to be located in a place where they may not choose to live.
The USDA study focused on six natural amenities pertaining to physical rather than the social or economic environment and excluding most man-made attractions such as historic buildings or casinos. The amenities were average January temperature (warm winters); average January days of sun; temperate summers; summer humidity (low average July humidity); topographic variation; and water area.
"The study shows that recreation counties are not necessarily the most popular places to live year-round. In fact, some recreation counties with successful tourism enterprises are associated more with cold winters than with warm, other things being equal," Tweeten says. "This fact may help encourage North Dakota entrepreneurs who are looking for seasonal business opportunities related to tourism."
One reason people are attracted to recreation counties which experience cold winters is because many of these same counties enjoy temperate summers. McGranahan says, "Summer heat is still a drawback."
In her role as community economic development specialist, Tweeten works to facilitate rural tourism efforts. The NDSU Extension Service functions as a clearinghouse of information related to successful recreation enterprises in North Dakota. For more information about resources that can assist in starting businesses in rural locations, contact your local office of the NDSU Extension Service, or call Tweeten at (701) 328-5134.
###
Source: Kathleen Tweeten (701) 328-5134
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136