As we continue to promote the Cumberland Plateau region to travelers it’s critical that we stay abreast the recent advances in internet technology. Thanks to recent innovations to online content management, the ability to coordinate a regional marketing strategy is much more feasible. Individuals and organizations can now collaborate at a central internet location to keep information updated and accessible.

   According to a recent study published by the US Travelers Association, 86% of American internet users use the internet to find maps and driving directions for their trips. There is an ever growing number of online trip planning resources that use online database technology with interactive maps to display a user’s search results according to their travel interests and desired activities. The Alliance will apply this technology to its Web site www.LetsGoPlateau.com, and place our inventory of the Plateau region’s natural, cultural and historic resources into a searchable database that is updated by the tourism stakeholders in the Cumberland Plateau region. The resulting Web site will unify existing efforts to promote the region, and be a superior resource for connecting travelers with the region’s natural and cultural attractions.

    Despite the incredible diversity of assets and the vast potential for economic growth, the Cumberland Plateau has not taken full advantage of marketing itself as a destination for sustainable tourism. There are two, co-dependent challenges to the successful coordination of a regional tourism marketing plan in the plateau corridor:

1. The Plateau is divided by the border between Middle and Eastern Tennessee and into a northern and southern region of 21 counties. Coordinating a combined marketing effort within the entire plateau corridor requires the cooperation between strong regional identities that have been in place for many years.

2. Although the region is currently promoted by its competing counties and tourism associations, travelers plan their trips without regard to cultural and municipal boundaries. A traveler chooses his or her trip based upon popular towns, events and other attractions.

  Our proposed Web site design is a two-tiered solution to these challenges. It will provide a single location for stakeholders to independently promote their areas attractions and a tool with which travelers can search this information according to their interests and travel plans. Regional tourism stakeholders will have ownership in maintaining their list of natural and cultural attractions via a user-friendly interface. Each attraction entered into the online database will be classified by its location, amenities, available activities, and other unique characteristics so those searching the Web site will be easily connected with their specific needs and interests.