What do you think tourism should look like in Schoharie County?
That’s the question the Destination Marketing Corporation–the county’s local tourism partner and the vision behind Visit Schoharie County–is asking in a quick anonymous survey available online at https://bit.ly/SchoharieRSS.
After a few demographic questions, the survey asks respondents a half-dozen questions on whether they feel tourism here has a positive–or negative–impact on things like the economy, cultural and leisure activities, and atmosphere and whether the county should do more to promote itself to potential tourists–and from where:
Just New York State? The United States? Or the world?
Sam Forehand, Media Designer for DMC, which also handles Otsego County’s tourism work, said the survey is part of a larger effort by the New York State Tourism Industry Association to hear from local residents on how tourism impacts their lives.
For now, DMC is just surveying Schoharie County.
To start the online survey, go to the drop-down menu at the top to find Schoharie County.
“We know the impacts of tourism all start with a single visit,” Ms. Forehand said. “We want to know how that impacts things like quality of life.
“Often, it’s just the same people at the table. We want to bring more people into the conversation and get as much feedback as possible–good, bad, or in between– to better guide our work.”
One of the more interesting questions asks respondents whether they “like to give tourists advice and tips.”
Ms. Forehand, who lives in Sharon Springs and is involved with the Klinkhart Hall Art Center, said Schoharie County is a little unique in the pride residents take in showing off what’s here to visitors, something DMC hears time and time again from tourists.
“Our office can’t create that natural love people have for where they live,” she said. “That’s why it’s important to hear from the people who live here. This is my home too. This is a great first step to gather their thoughts.”