STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Economic success for the Yampa Valley can come through cooperation, according to several presenters at Thursday’s Economic Summit 2004.

“It’s called ‘co-opetition’ — teaching those who think they’re in competition to cooperate,” said Catherine Zacher, president of Santa Fe Economic Development Inc.

Although many of the speakers focused on issues specific to Steamboat Springs, such as the impact of second homeowners, several ideas relevant to Moffat County emerged: cultural tourism, economic gardening and encouraging Internet-based businesses.

Cultural tourism — where tourists seek experiences with an area’s unique qualities, history and arts — is quickly replacing traditional tourism, Zacher said.

“Tourists are more into life-seeing than sightseeing,” Zacher said.

The average cultural tourist spends more money, stays longer and is more educated than traditional tourists, Zacher said. The modern tourist is looking for a sense of people and place, which means the more character a town has, the more likely people will choose it as a destination, she said.

“It’s the first time a community doesn’t really have to be a major destination. You just have to have a unique history and be willing to share it,” Zacher said.

Lou Wyman, a Moffat County rancher, is ahead of the curve. He already is developing a living history ranch where tourists will have an opportunity to experience a ranch as it was in the early 1900s.

Craig Mayor David DeRose agreed that cultural tourism is important for economic development.

“What Lou Wyman is doing is fantastic,” DeRose said. “It’s a great thing, but it’s not going to be the only tool that we’ll need.”

DeRose said he is a proponent of “economic gardening” — taking a local business that is doing well and helping it to grow and succeed. He used Cabellas, the thriving sporting equipment retailer based in Kearney, Neb., as an example.

“Who would bring a business to Kearney, Neb.?” he asked. “No one. The people who started Cabellas lived there.”

DeRose said he thinks helping businesses grow is much better than luring outside businesses in with tax breaks because as soon as the tax break is over, companies might simply move on to the next best offer somewhere else.

There are several business owners who would like to expand nationally, DeRose said, and he hopes to support those efforts. Such expansions will be greatly reliant on improving information technology in the area, he said.

Audrey Danner of Yampa Valley Partners said the intergovernmental cooperation needed to improve telecommunications in the region is already taking place.

“An idea that I heard reinforced was regional collaboration and that it could be as individual and unique as any community,” Danner said.

Part of that collaboration was possible at the conference.

“It’s more important that we all get together than to listen to the speakers,” DeRose said. “We gain a better working relationship.”