Tourism development: an economic stimulus in the heart of America

Less than one hour south of Kansas City, in the Heart of America, lies historic Harrisonville, boyhood home of the infamous gangster, Cole Younger, with interesting tourism sites such as an 1835 prairie log cabin, the Cass County Opry Theater featuring a live performance of a "Mark Twain" presentation and a special history of country music, a large modem day working farm, and many other fascinating memories of early midwestern life. Such activities provide an opportunity to experience the warmth and flavor of midwestern hospitality firsthand.

During the American Civil War, Union Soldiers from the North occupied the Harrisonville Courthouse. The year was 1863. Cole Younger and his brothers, sympathetic to the Confederacy, resisted the Union Soldiers, resulting in the burning of rural Harrisonville homes and farms (Union Army order #11). The Youngers teamed up with the Dalton Gang, the James Brothers, and the Quantrill Raiders from nearby Kansas. This exciting part of the frontier west is just a short trip outside Kansas City.

Going further east from Kansas City, past the 70-foot cliffs overlooking the Missouri River, is Old Fort Osage, built in 1808 and a prelude to the historic town of Lexington, MO., a small, rural community full of historic memorabilia and lovely home-style restaurants within an hour-and-a-half drive of Kansas City. With its many Civil War-era buildings and tours of the Civil War battles fought nearby, Lexington offers a unique rural tourism destination. And, for those visitors who want to relive the past, nearby Lexington offers some fascinating and interesting "bed and breakfast" lodgings.

Also within an hour's drive of Kansas City are the infamous Jesse James historic sites. The legend of Jesse James never dies; in fact, it becomes more intriguing on each subsequent visit. You can visit the banks he robbed, tour the Jesse James Farm, and experience the "life and times" of Jesse James.

These scenic, rural towns near Kansas City are, only the beginning of a rural environment rich in the history and culture of the "frontier west." The "Kansas City Hub" offers the visitor a rich experience of modern Kansas City, as well as the rustic, rural environment so attractive to both the domestic and international visitor. Kansas City's participation in the recently-held Expo '92 (see, preceding article) gave the international community a brief but exciting introduction to the wonders of the Heartland.

Again, within easy access to the "Kansas City" hub are the wonderful frontier communities across the river on the Kansas side. Kansas is full of dynamic frontier sites and sounds ranging from the well-known Fort Scott National Historic, Site (see Nov. 5. 1990 issue of Business America) to the famous historical Fort Leavenworth site of the special tribute to the "Buffalo Soldiers" (see Nov. 30 and Dec. 14, 1992 issue of Business America). And, of west of Kansas City is famous "Dodge City." site of many of the frontier "shoot-outs" made famous by numerous movie and television programs.

With Kansas City's participation in Expo '92, not only has this thriving modern city become a global mecca for the international visitor, but it has become the hub of rural heartland tourism. It offers the opportunity to revitalize many rural communities which are often in decline. It has helped to lead efforts to bring even greater recognition and economic vitality to the tourism potential of rural America.

Rural Tourism is Encouraged

Tourism is growing, thriving industry, and is expected to continue adding jobs and income in communities well into the future - and not just in big cities with major attractions, but in small rural communities like those in Kansas and Missouri, which are reaping the rewards of their tourism development efforts. There is a growing trend on the part of both domestic and international tourists to venture out to see and experience real America - rural America.

This is certainly good news for individuals living in rural areas, especially those who have depended upon agriculture for their livelihood. It is a known fact that the problems that plague rural America today are extensive. The economic competitiveness of rural areas is, declining, in part because rural communities are dependent upon too few sources of income. Economic planners say that new industries must be developed to replace those that are dying and are no longer competitive, that underdeveloped rural resources must be utilized, and that rural Americans must be taught new skills.

Economic planners point out that non-metropolitan counties which depended on tourism, retirement income, and specialized government spending exhibited much greater stability during the 1981-82 recession than those that were dependent on rural manufacturing, farming, coal mining, or oil-drilling. Although agriculture remains the most important industry in rural America, it now employs relatively few people. Of America's 2,400 rural counties, only approximately 400 are considered agriculturally dependent.

Rural communities are seeking more sustainable resources as alternatives to economic development rather than the once dominant industries of farming, ranching, and mining. Tourism is a highly viable option because its implementation relies on the cultural, historic, ethnic, geographic, and natural uniqueness of an area. Tourism opportunities increasingly are being viewed as opportunities for keeping rural communities economically viable.

If such rural areas can also be tied to a hub city nearby, as in the case of Kansas City, even more opportunities for opening the doors to domestic and international visitors are made possible.

Training for

Rural Communities

Finally, official acknowledgement of rural tourism as a potential source of revenue enhancing greater economic stability in mall town America, has led to greater and more dynamic policy and leadership involvement by the federal, state, county, and private sectors.

Central to this initiative is the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration's (USTTA) development of an educational outreach program that provides training for rural communities interested in tourism as an economic development tool. With this mission in mind, USTTA designed a "Train the Trainers" program that was implemented at its First National Rural Tourism Development Conference, held in April 1992, at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Kansas City, Mo.

The primary objective of this annual conference is to establish a cadre of professionals in every state capable of providing technical help. information, or other needed assistance to rural communities interested in tourism development. Critical to this objective is the need for developing a networking relationship between local, county, and federal participants, along with the private sector, as rural tourism becomes an increasingly more important part of total tourism development.

More than 200 individuals representing 43 states and Canada attended USTTA's 1992 conference. Taking an active role in this workshop forum, each participant was able to see how these opportunities could be tailored to suit the needs of their home state or community. Since the majority of states was represented, the participants of the conference are now part of a nationwide human resource network that is committed to rural tourism as a means of local economic development.

To continue providing both educational and networking opportunities, a second annual conference on rural tourism will be held in Rapid City, S.D., April 26-28, in conjunction with the National Association of State Development Agencies (NASDA) Third Annual National Conference on Tourism Development (April 28-30).

The purpose of the conference is to continue development and training of a nationwide team of individuals able to work with local community leadership to make their areas attractive to tourism. The program seeks to define and establish municipal tourism policies that will assist state or political subdivisions in making tourism an economic development priority. Registration information can be obtained by calling Mary McChesney, USTTA, at tel. (202) 482-2104.

COPYRIGHT 1993 U.S. Government Printing Office
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group