craigdailypress.com

Tapping into Heritage Tourism made sense to more than 15 Meeker residents who attended a meeting Wednesday at Town Hall.

Judy Walden spoke to the group of business owners and Rio Blanco County residents about the changes in tourism and how a regional perspective could help the local economy.

"Certainly hunting and the Meeker Classic Sheepdog Trials are two events that distinguish Meeker from any other place," she said, "What you must look at is everything you have as a region to offer and decide as a community if you want to share it."

Walden explained that the "new tourists" is looking for experience and authenticity, and they are willing to pay a fair price for them.

"They will do anything in the day, but at the end of the day they want a good meal and demand accommodations that are above average.

"Not just squeaky clean but unique -- perhaps elegant -- and the bed must give them that tucked-in feeling," she said.

She said heritage tourists are high-value tourists who appreciate who you are and what you have to offer, and are willing to pay a fair price and follow your rules.

The group began by listing the many cultural, historical, recreational, natural, scenic and natural opportunities in the area.

Walden called Meeker a "60-second town," as a way tof saying traffic is plentiful but nothing in town -- such as signs about attractions -- gives tourists a reason to stay. She suggested that adequate signage should be a No. 1 priority for the town.

"You must direct people to downtown. Point them to the museum. Show them the Scenic Byway, the parks and access to the river. Otherwise, they just drive right on by," she said.

She said because these high value travelers want the experience, communities must change the way they do business or they will not survive.

She said the purpose of these meetings, which included seven communities in Northwest Colorado, was to get communities thinking about the possibility of a regional heritage cooperative. The state is expected to offer three types of grants for pilot programs that would promote cultural heritage tourism as a region. The town of Fruita was used as an example of how a town can change.

"They ran with 'Mike the headless Chicken'and promoted mountain biking." Walden said. "Now, bikers consider the area some of the best in the United States."

She said it was important to look at activities that are doable and keep it simple.

"Every business should not let a customer leave without suggesting they go somewhere else," she said. "The idea is not just to get them to stop but keep them for while and let them leave with a lasting impression."