Area seeking more tourism

    Murphy – Tourism is a big part of the local economy. In fact, hospitality businesses depend on it, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sherry Raines said. Some local groups are working to bring people to local businesses this summer.
    Chamber staff recently attended a webinar by Marlise Taylor, a research analyst for Visit NC, which showed people are more likely to visit less-populated areas this summer as well as places within 400 miles from home.
    Raines saw opportunity in that data for local businesses, especially those that offer outdoor activities. As a result, the chamber helped local businesses prepare for the summer season of tourism by sharing with them a reopening kit produced by the Asheville Chamber of Commerce under guidelines set by the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services.
    The Tourism Development Authority is taking advantage of the 400 miles from home aspect. It has invested $5,000 in participating in the Road Trippin’ summer travel segment on WLOS in Asheville.
    A crew was expected to be in the Andrews area Tuesday, after a community cleanup Monday, to film seven two-minute segments to air during the last week of July. The deal allows the TDA to use the segments on its website, visitcherokeecountync.com, as well as on social media.
    “Being featured on the Road Trippin’ program will definitely have a positive effect on our county,” TDA Manager Cabrina Scionti said. “Because of the pandemic, our tourism numbers have suffered majorly.”
    She said May through September are the busiest months for tourism in the county, and numbers were half of usual in March and April.
    The U.S. Travel Association forecasted that domestic travel spending will drop 40 percent by the end of the year. The group said weekly travel spending grew by 5 percent in the past week, and that states with without large urban centers saw big improvements.
    County Commissioner Cal Stiles, who is on the TDA board, hopes the program “jump-starts” local tourism. He said tourism dollars dropped tremendously in the spring months.
    “I think (tourism is) extremely important,” Stiles said. “Our purpose is to try to help.”
    He added that the county is moving toward more of a service industry, with a lot of cabin rentals, hotels, motels and restaurants. He added that tourism also helps the real estate industry, as some people decide to make Cherokee County their home after visiting.
    A major way the chamber is working to attract visitors is by implementing involvement in the Visit NC Farms app. It is also reaching out to potential visitors on social media by sharing ways to enjoy the outdoors locally.
    The Andrews Chamber of Commerce has been keeping its website fresh with information on what businesses are open and when. It also has plans to create a new weekly event to bring visitors downtown, but is waiting on what Gov. Roy Cooper announces about upcoming reopening phases after July 17, Director Jan Olson said.
    “We hope by August we’ll be allowed to attract people,” Olson said, adding that she has been very cautious while following state guidelines.
    Meanwhile, the Murphy Business Association has been working to convince people to shop local through a series of videos highlighting small business owners. Karah Thompson said the Shop Murphy campaign has already made a huge impact.
    “It’s been a superb project that has been very well received by the community,” Thompson said. “If our own residents continue to work and shop in our communities, the economic weight of that can actually sustain through difficult times, so our goal was to encourage buying local.”
    The campaign is fully funded through the association, and the goal was to build visibility of local small businesses. The videos were filmed by Murphy university student-run Curious Robot Photography. The series will run online through the end of the month.