Flagler County tourism board forwards strategic plan to county commissioners

At its meeting on the 16th, the Flagler County Tourist Development Council voted unanimously to forward a proposed strategic plan to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.

The plan, presented by Bill Geist, owner and founder of DMO Pros, lays out three primary goals — destination development, visitor experience and organizational excellence — with objectives that include expanding ecotourism packages, improving wayfinding signage, strengthening arts and culture offerings, developing event and sports facility strategy, and redesigning grant and capital funding policies. "There is an elephant in the room," Geist said, "and that is just the scarcity of appropriate funding, to do all the things that you need to and can and should be doing."

The strategic-plan discussion centered on how the Tourist Development Council (TDC) should position itself: as a watchdog, an advisory voice to the Board of County Commissioners, or a more engaged partner in guiding destination projects. Council members and staff discussed tactics the TDC could pursue without new funding (advocacy, partnerships and community outreach) as well as initiatives that would require additional revenue, such as a state-of-the-art visitor center and larger capital projects.

Key tactics described in the presentation include: - Destination development: promote ecotourism magnets…