 |
Travel,
Tourism, and Recreation Resource Center
at Michigan State University
Celebrating 22 Years of Service to
Michigan's Tourism Industry!
|
| The Origin of the Travel, Tourism and Recreation Resource Center |
|
With Michigan’s automobile industry on the ropes, it was evident that a more diverse economic base was needed to create jobs for Michigan residents. As would be expected of the state’s land grant university, MSU’s Cooperative Extension Service (now MSU Extension) and its Michigan Agriculture Experiment Station quickly became engaged in the quest for strategies to build a more diversified and sustainable Michigan economy. Among the opportunities for diversifying Michigan’s economy that emerged from MSU sponsored research and stakeholder forums was “to grow the state’s tourism industry.” At that time, Michigan’s natural resources had a long history of serving as a playground for residents of the state and surrounding region, but their potential to support tourism as an engine for economic development had never garnered serious consideration. Little was known then about the status or potential of Michigan’s tourism industry, or what might be done to grow the industry. An often raised question at the time was “How can MSU contribute to the sustainable economic growth of Michigan’s tourism industry?” Out of a stakeholder forum hosted by faculty in the then Department of Park, Recreation, and Tourism Resources came the recommendation that MSU should create a research and outreach center to marshal resources from across campus to support the travel, tourism, and recreation industry’s sustainable economic development. The idea to create such a center captured the attention of Senator Connie Binsfeld who led the effort to finance a center via allocations of needed funding through MAES and MSUE. With funding in place, the Michigan Travel, Tourism, and Recreation Resource Center was established by the MSU Board of Trustees in 1985. It has served as an “information clearinghouse” for the industry since that time. Some of the more noteworthy accomplishments of the Center’s staff during the past 20 years include: · An annual Michigan Tourism Outlook Conference since 1985 · Longitudinal tracking research since 1985 · Accumulation of extensive industry-related data now made readily available on the Internet · Publishing of the Michigan Tourism Business electronic newsletter with a distribution of 4,000 · Extensive short- and long-term outreach projects across the state, in partnership with the MSUE Tourism Area of Expertise team. There is growing evidence that the investments of MAES and MSUE in the Tourism Center have been wise and rewarding. Since 1985, the volume of tourist travel in Michigan has nearly doubled and their nominal spending has nearly tripled. “We believe that our research and extension programs have contributed substantially to the growth of Michigan’s tourism industry over the past 20 years,” notes Center director Dr. Don Holecek, and his belief is shared by others. His contributions through the Center were recognized in 2003 when he received the Lifetime Achievement award from the International Travel and Tourism Research Association and again in 2004 when he received the Outstanding Achievement in Tourism Award from the Michigan tourism industry. And, the contributions of the Center have been noted in two editions of the Guide to the Best Practices in Tourism and Destination Management, published by the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Last updated 06-08-06 |
| Copyright 2006 Michigan State University Board of Trustees.
All rights reserved. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity institution. |