Chisago Lakes Area Tourism Assessment Program Case Study Liz Templin Extension Professor University of Minnesota Extension

Lindstrom Settled in 1853 Similar to Sweden Population 4,442 Minneapolis: 35 mi

Vilmelm Moberg Lindstrom Collected stories Required reading for all children in Sweden

Lindstrom Tourism Swedish Tour Buses Hazelden families

Welcome to your source for Minnesota tourism education and research!

University of Minnesota Extension Founded as “Agricultural Extension Service” “Extend U research” Community Economics: – Retail Analysis and Development – Business Retention and Expansion – Public Finance – E-Commerce – Tourism (tourism.umn.edu) Festival and Event Management Customer Service Tourism Assessment Program

Toolkit for communities Available on Amazon.com

Tourism Assessment Program Benefits Is tourism right for us? What tourism trends are impacting us? What are our tourism strengths and weaknesses? What are our tourism markets? What are our tourism business opportunities?

Research Steps 1.Review existing data on the community 2.Community Visit – Community compiles list of attractions – A tour of the city and area – Visits to sites and attractions – Casual conversations – A community forum: values, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats 3.Report with Recommendations

Lindstrom Findings Strengths: – Water/lakes – Swedish heritage Weaknesses: – Lack of hospitality facilities (lodging) – Lack of community cohesiveness Opportunities – Being a Swedish tour destination – Day trips from Minneapolis – St Paul Threats – Lack of community cooperation – Traffic congestion

Tourism Reality Reality: Lindstrom currently hosts tourists – friends and family of residents – Swedish visitors wanting to see Moberg sites – Hazelden – to people passing on their way to other locations. Challenge: How to manage the visitor experience to the benefit of residents and business owners. Results!

Key Actions & Success Since Increased Community Cooperation 2.Enhanced Marketing 3.Expanded Attractions 4.Preserving Lake Quality 5.Expanding Lodging

1. Increased Community Cooperation Tourism committee: – Business leaders – City staff Chamber of Commerce: – Weekly on upcoming group tours – Businesses obtained addresses

City Efforts to Work with Businesses Weekly updates Business Breakfast Market during road construction

2012 Road Construction: Saw financial impact of tourism!

New marketing realities Many businesses believed a telephone was all they needed Learning: If you’re not on the internet, customers can’t find you

Lindstrom On-Line Presence No Website: 13%Incorrect Google Places: 11%

Missing Social Media 94% Not on Yelp (iPhone search) 96% not on Facebook

Multi-Community Cooperation

2. Enhanced Marketing

3. Expand Attractions

4. Preserving the lake’s water quality Failing septic systems resulted in annexation to city Added rain garden

5. Expand Lodging Options

Challenges Funding for staff to do tourism marketing Business use of the internet

Thank you Liz Templin