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(Kearney, NE) Gov. Dave Heineman welcomed entrepreneurs, investors and farmers and ranchers to Kearney today to the rescheduled Governor’s Agri-Tourism Workshop. The day-long event was designed to promote the opportunities available to promote agricultural and ecological tourism in Nebraska. The event attracted more than 300 attendees, despite being rescheduled due to inclement weather in central Nebraska.
“Today’s workshop is a first in Nebraska, and so I’m excited to see so many people interested in learning more about opportunities for creating viable, profitable agri-tourism experiences for travelers in our great state,” Gov. Heineman said. “What makes this state such a wonderful place to live and raise a family is also what makes Nebraska a great place to visit: a welcoming atmosphere, a feeling of hospitality, friendliness and a strong sense of community.”
The Governor’s Agri-Tourism Workshop, the first state conference on the topic, explores many aspects involved in establishing, managing and promoting unique attractions and businesses. The workshop targets rural economic developers and landowners seeking ways to diversify agricultural income. The Governor opened the conference at 9:00 a.m., speaking on the importance of rural economic development and tourism’s role in its renaissance.
The conference’s two featured speakers, Jane Eckert of Eckert Agri-Marketing of St. Louis, and Ted Lee Eubanks of FERMATA Inc. in Austin, Texas, are focusing on the increasing interest in rural destinations among travelers and on proven strategies to make experiential tourism economically viable in smaller communities.
The department has created a new booklet for those interested in starting a new business venture, which provides information and resources for creating unique rural experiences for travelers. More detailed information on Nebraska’s agri-tourism opportunities is available online at to http://www.VisitNebraska.org, or by calling the Nebraska Department of Economic Development’s Travel and Tourism Division at 877-NEBRASKA.
Workshop sponsors include the Travel and Tourism Division, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the University of Nebraska Lincoln-Extension, KAAPA Country Adventures and the University of Nebraska Rural Initiative.
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