OCEAN CITY – A draft Tourism Strategic Plan was presented this month outlining goals to grow, enhance and maintain the resort into the next 15 years.
Last Monday, the Tourism Commission reviewed a draft of the Tourism Strategic Plan for the first time. Commission Chair Councilwoman Mary Knight asked the commission to take the time before next month’s commission meeting to review the draft and to return for a detailed discussion over recommended changes or questions prior to the final draft being presented to the full Mayor and City Council.
The Tourism Commission is made up of representatives from the Mayor and City Council, city administration, the Chamber of Commerce, Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, Economic Development Committee, Ocean City Development Corporation, Maryland Tourism Development Board, Ocean City Department of Tourism, the Roland E. Powell Convention Center and Ocean City Special Events.
“I appreciate everyone’s input thus far in this process. It has been a rather lengthy process starting a year ago. It is work in progress but we are getting there. I appreciate you taking a look at it and share it with your respective board and representatives and get back to us,” Tourism Director Donna Abbott said.
Lyle Sumek, president of Lyle Sumek Associates, Inc., was chosen to conduct the Tourism Strategic Plan as he had recently finished a city-wide strategic plan for Ocean City.
The purpose of the tourism strategic plan is to engage the members of the Tourism Commission and other key stakeholders in developing a five-year strategic plan for tourism and a one-year action agenda work program.
Additionally, it would define outcome-based tourism goals with performing standards and measures, to establish a tourism framework and tools to assist in making decisions and investments including target markets and guests, to develop a tourism work plan for one year and to institutionalize a tourism strategic planning process with a monitoring and recording mechanism.
Tourism Commission members and business stakeholders had their work cut out for them over the past year as Sumek held individual and group interviews to question and gather information that came together in the final product.
The draft Tourism Strategic Plan presented on Monday listed the top priority action items for this year are to develop a tourism marketing plan; plan the third expansion of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center now that the second phase and new performing arts center has been completed; state tourism dollar advocacy; a tourist data collection system/media purchase evaluation report; advocacy to have students return to school after Labor Day; and redevelopment of the “model block” downtown where properties, such as the former Beach Patrol headquarters, will be demolished.
High priority action items for this year are to expand Halloween events; sports tournaments expansion; a New York/New Jersey marketing program; continue to educate on the town’s new smoking policy on the beach and Boardwalk; and a report on Northside Park.
Moderate priority action items for this year are maintenance of the 3rd/4th streets public parking lot and beach areas, Boardwalk enhancements and expansion of events.
Ocean City’s tourism goals for the year 2020 are to expand the tourism seasons; improve the curb appeal of Ocean City to be more attractive and more inviting; enhance the tourists’ experience to be more enjoyable and more memorable; become a major sports destination with more tournaments and competitions; and maintain and enhance the beach and boardwalk to reflect a world class destination.
The Tourism Vision extending to the year 2030 is Ocean City will be a year-round season family-friendly resort community and a destination for the mid-Atlantic region.
Additionally, the aim is for Ocean City 2030 to be the ideal destination for water-based activities, amateur sports conferences/conventions, cultural arts and performances, and specialty weekend celebrations and events.
Overall, according to the draft, tourism mission is “to market Ocean City for tourism; maintain and enhance the boardwalk; maintain a top quality beach; provide free and pay for events and activities; build and maintain an attractive city; operate, maintain and program the convention center; and develop and provide recreational programs, camps and activities.”