By Jo C. Goode – The Herald News
FALL RIVER — The city made available this week a $50,000 preliminary data study on the current state of tourism in Fall River and potential next steps to improve economic development in a “creative economy” and expand cultural tourism.
During a meeting on Friday, Mayor Paul Coogan officially released a 31-page report containing a two-year strategic tourism development plan. The study was paid for with $670,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding awarded to One SouthCoast Chamber and managed by the for-profit organization, Viva Fall River.
“We are laying the foundation of where we go from here,” said Coogan said of the research and tourism initiative by his administration. “Taking all of these things and seeing what works and what doesn’t and guiding us going forward.”
University of Massachusetts’ Charlton College of Business Dean John Williams, whose background includes doing intensive data collection, research and planning in the tourism industry in New Orleans, said his experience working in tourism shows Fall River’s potential is great.
“I can tell you what you have here is ripe,” said Williams.
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