Page 70 - Rural Tourism Report Washington County
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CHAPTER 3: THE WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM SECTOR
2. What are the needs for Rural Tourism to grow? How can Rural Tourism be enhanced?
• To facilitate agricultural/rural business » Roadside pull-outs with informational/
development, it was suggested that the attraction markers (recommended by a few
County provide an ombudsman whose job interviewees). Of note: the Vineyard and
it is to facilitate rural tourism operations. Valley Scenic Tour Route is 60 miles long, but
County staff should be geared up to discuss there aren’t many places to safely pull off to
challenges and ways to grow rural tourism view scenery and interpretive signage or get
businesses in balance with farmer needs more information.
and land use laws. County staff training, » Improved signage and access to rural tourism
educational publications, training workshops, attractions (recommended by most). Of note:
and a user-friendly website for rural tourism An interviewee mentioned that GPS service
providers were recommended. would commonly direct rural tourists up a
All interviewees encouraged a planning dangerous road to a particular farm, but that
approach that will keep the County Washington County’s Operations division
competitive in both production agriculture helped direct visitors along a safer route
and rural tourism. All agreed that they with signage and speed bumps. It was also
don’t want to “destroy paradise” but want pointed out that signage could do a better
to invigorate rural Washington County job informing drivers when they are entering
with careful, sustainable rural tourism and leaving an agricultural area, and updated
development in a way that is complementary signs were requested to replace those
to production agriculture and natural showing a farmer wearing a straw hat.
resources and supportive of rural tourism » Creation of bike safe corridors (recommended
providers. It was noted that farmland could by most). From their perspective, bicycling on
remain in a natural healthy state and that rural roads is popular and gaining in volume for
actions such as paving of farmland should outdoor recreation/touring and commuting.
not occur in order to support occasional Road widening and signage to accommodate
activities. A few interviewees suggested cyclists were recommended to improve rural
that rural tourism and urban reserves create tourism appeal as well as safety.
competing interests for the county. » Allowances/clarifications for parking
• Most interviewees mentioned the importance (requested by one). Hosting big events
of efficient and safe roadways. They believed and corporate groups can require use of
roadways could make it easier and safer for buses/shuttles, and associated parking
rural tourists to travel at any time of day and accommodations, in part to manage traffic
make it more likely for them to linger while levels and reduce automobile parking on rural
they appreciate the area. Related suggestions roads. Code clarifications were requested to
included: allow parking of such vehicles for events in
rural areas.
66 WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL TOURISM STUDY
