Georgia Tourism’s Product Development team conducted a mini Resource Team visit in Tifton, Tift County this past Tuesday through Thursday, August 12 – 14. The Georgia Tourism Resource Team is a statewide program administered through the Georgia Department of Economic Development that assists private, non-profit and government clients to help them identify and create tourism opportunities in the area to positively impact Georgia’s visitor industry.

“We were very pleased with the results of our visit and were impressed with the extensive and diverse portfolio of tourism assets Tift County has to offer,” said Bruce Green, director of Tourism Product Development at the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “We were equally impressed with the valuable conversations we had with members of the chamber, community and the Tifton, Tift County Tourism Association leadership.”

Tift County was chosen to participate in this initiative which focuses technical assistance in the form of a reconnaissance and strategy visit to a local community interested in developing or increasing its tourism potential. In Tifton, the team focused on elements of cultural and heritage tourism, nature based and Agritourism and sports tourism relevant to the local economy. The team members consisted of representatives from the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism division; Georgia Council for the Arts; the Department of Community Affairs and independent consultants with experience in rural tourism, interpretation and edutainment.

The team spent time in a series of site visits and an exchange of ideas to explore the next level of tourism infrastructure and activities that will be critical to Tift County’s continued progress and success. The team will return in approximately 60 days to present its findings to community leaders and representatives of local organizations in a town hall meeting. Details of which will be released at a later date.