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The Future of Sustainable Tourism in Rhode Island
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Workshop 1
Conversations on Developing Sustainable Tourism
Explanations regarding the approach, style and rationale for the workshops are described in the
section entitled, Learning Café Process. In this section the substance of the conversations and
contributions by the 100+ participants (who were divided into twelve tourism sector groups)
follows. Minimum editing was done so the comments reflect what appeared on the flipchart
tablecloths.
I. Changing Conditions Analysis – immediate and emergent –and impact
(adverse or affirming) on the visitor experience
In referring back to Kip Bergstrom’s essential starting point: Resilience begins with an astute
awareness of the immediate and emergent conditions. This was the first question participants
were asked to consider. While the original intent was to have participants relate the changing
conditions only to the visitor experience, some participants related them to tourism operators
as well.
Note: The responses only capture “top-of-mind” thoughts – thoughts that were part of wider
ranging conversations. The responses correspond and are recorded in accordance with
thematic category assigned to each group.
Farming:
• Challenge for small business to work through governmental process
- Economic development
- Cultural coordination
- State process hasn’t caught up with evolution of farming
• Concern for open space / managing building creating demand & product
• Increased interest in locally grown, organic food
• Urban residents, who have never seen where food comes from, lack of awareness of farming.
• Huge demand for local products
• Agri-tourism primed for growth but nobody knows about it.
• Farms are growing & becoming more sustainable
Transportation:
• Price of gas, emissions, higher water washing out highways, billboards/aesthetics of the
transportation system, information on transportation options, congestion
Summit Report
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