Destination Assessment Takeaways: What Stakeholders Want
Successful collaboration across the community is critical in sustainability efforts since the community is the ultimate benefactor. Stakeholder input was collected in two ways: individual interviews and two workshops. Stakeholders believe destination stewardship in Rapid City has two goals:
- To preserve natural resources and access to outdoor recreation options
- To enhance and support the human and cultural aspects of the Rapid City region
Key Strategies
- Position VRC’s approach to destination management as one that strengthens the destination product and is conscious of the visitor economy’s effect on all aspects of the community.
- Support place-making initiatives that enhance Rapid City, broaden the types of visitors attracted to the area, and reflect the community’s rich heritage and diverse stakeholders.
- Drive higher levels of off-season visitation and visitor spending to the area to build a more stable and resilient visitor economy.
Key Imperatives
Insights and feedback from the destination assessment and stakeholder engagement identified five key imperatives which are the basis for a framework for Visit Rapid City (VRC) to accomplish its destination stewardship efforts.
- Balance and distribute tourism impacts
- Provide tools and resources to partners
- Champion the need for stewardship
- Engage the community and residents
- Measure and adapt
*Source: Tourism Economics 2022 Rapid City Tourism Impact Study
Stakeholder Engagement Participants
We deeply appreciate the active involvement of our stakeholders in the development of the stewardship plan. Your insights and commitment have been invaluable in shaping a more sustainable and responsible future for our organization.