The Office of Product Development assists communities and tourism partners in giving new life to existing resources and in fostering new tourism products within communities. This is done by delivering technical assistance and financial resources in hopes of creating new opportunities/markets for Georgia tourism products through strategic partnerships, packaging and marketing.
The Tourism Product Development (TPD) team works to increase Georgia’s tourism product development portfolio, and creating opportunities to introduce new audiences to Georgia’s amazing variety of sites and attractions.
Through the Tourism Division, Georgia supports its industry partners through its popular Tourism Product Development grant program, issued to partners annually as the budget allows. Information and applications for the current grant program can be found on this site during the grant open-window period. To learn more about program guidelines, the application process and much more, please visit our Tourism Grant Programs page.
One of the newest tools is the Heritage Tourism Handbook: A How-to-Guide for Georgia that was co-produced by the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Historic Preservation Division. This full-color, 63-page book (PDF) provides guidance on developing, implementing, and evaluating a community's heritage tourism potential.
TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RESOURCE TEAM
In October 2009 the Tourism Product Development Office created a new initiative to focus technical assistance in the form of a reconnaissance and strategy visit to a local community interested in developing its tourism potential. In March 2010 The City of Quitman in Brooks County was the first community to receive a Resource Team visit from the Georgia Tourism Division’s Product Development Office of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
During the Resource Team visit, the team members working with local leadership assessed the portfolio of tourism related assets within the community relevant to the areas of heritage and cultural tourism and Agritourism. The Resource Team’s objectives included inventorying and discussing those assets that were the most likely candidates for developing a tourism based economy in Quitman and Brooks County as well as identifying obstacles that might impede the implementation of such an effort.
The Resource Team visit took place over three days and included a tour of the historic commercial district and surrounding sites in Brooks County and interview sessions with community stakeholders. The visit concluded on the third day with a summary meeting with the City of Quitman, Brooks County officials and the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations, stakeholders and residents.
The final return visit included a public presentation of the findings of the Team and distribution of the complete report and tourism development plan for Quitman and Brooks County. The report can be accessed at:
Quitman-Brooks TPD Resource Team Report (PDF)
Quitman-Brooks: City Beautiful (PPT with audio)
For more information or assistance on tourism product development, please contact:
Bruce Green
Tourism Product Development Director
(O) 404-962-4092
(C) 678-642-0338
(F) 404-962-4093
Bgreen@georgia.org
Ms. Leslie Breland
Product Development Manager, Cultural Tourism Specialist
(O) 404-962-4844
(C) 404-290-9837
(F) 404-962-4093
lbreland@georgia.org
Barry Brown
Heritage Tourism Specialist
(O) 404-962-4174
(C) 404-558-0537bbrown@georgia.org