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CELEBRATING AND ENRICHING TOURISM AT THE PEOPLE’S COAST SUMMIT
The 2024 People's Coast Summit marked the end of a bustling tourism season on the Oregon Coast. This annual event, which rotates among our coastal towns, took place at the Florence Event Center on October 8-9.
Keynote sessions covered pressing topics for the Oregon Coast, including boosting the hospitality sector, authentic engagement with indigenous tribes, the role of arts and culture in economic growth, and the use of AI in tourism marketing. A highlight was Paul Linnman, the famous reporter from the iconic 1970 exploding whale story, recounting this unforgettable experience and initiating a discussion on effective crisis communication management.
Breakout workshops featured talks on enhancing the coast's appeal to tourists, with a focus on sustainability, accessibility, and inclusive hospitality. Another key theme was increasing visibility and brand growth using web tools like Google Tools, Canva, and short-form video. Additional sessions covered tourism tax benefits, EV charging opportunities, cycling tourism, how Travel Oregon promotes the state internationally, and OCVA's support for local projects.
The event offered many engaging activities, including social mixers, networking opportunities, meals throughout the day, and a beachside bonfire. Following the summit, attendees could enjoy sandboarding at Sandmaster Park, explore public art and galleries in Florence, ride David's chair at Heceta Beach, or participate in a hands-on Forest and Fungi Bioblitz at Neptune State Park.
If you couldn’t attend, discover what you missed, and stay tuned for next year’s summit.
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