Specifications include, but are not limited to: A. The Plan should address two key questions: 1. What are the best lures that the state and each tourism region should be promoting now to successfully compete in obtaining new travelers? 2. What products should the state and each tourism region focus on building to successfully compete in obtaining new travelers? B. The Contactor shall provide services that meet the following objectives: 1. Create a 5-year Plan that pinpoints the state and each tourism regions strongest current lures to note as well as identify product development that needs to take place in each of the six (6) regions to be more competitive. 2. Determine what theme/focus should be the primary activity-based lures of each of the State’s six tourism regions and the development needed to make the lures significantly attractive to all markets (regional, national, and international). 3. Identify viable tourism development potential of each of the six regions of Rhode Island (e.g., as a “stopping point” en-route, a “hub”, or a “spoke”) and then identify the development required to achieve this potential. C. Tourism Development Plan Components The Tourism Plan shall be a five-year plan, should be able to serve as a framework for communities to use as a model for their individual local plans, and should be comprised of the following components: 1. Existing Product Promotions a) Review current major tourism marketing initiatives in each of Rhode Island’s six regions. b) Perform a situation analysis of each region’s top lures in attracting visitors. c) Identify the most valuable/lucrative target audiences for each region. d) Evaluate strength of lures when compared to destinations offering comparable products. e) Identify competitors between feeder markets and destinations that offer similar products. f) Identify the most attractive hub & spoke strategy to strengthen lures for the best experiences. 2. Future Product Development a) Identify direction/vision of each region for the next 5 years. b) Analyze 3-5 out-of-state competitors for each region based upon stated direction. c) Identify major voids in each region based upon direction and competition. d) Develop a 5-year product development strategy to fill voids and further boost the direction of each region. The strategy should include immediate adjustments, 1–2 years’ development and a 5–year “game-changer” for the region. 3. Execution Recommendations and Strategy a) Provide recommendations for the Corporation to consider with partners, share findings, and facilitate customized workshops to develop community-based development plans specific to that community based upon the regional recommendations. b) Review of available funding sources that communities may use for development of new assets. c) Review of State and Federal agencies that may assist with development of new assets. d) Identify/rank projects that will have the largest impact on the regions as well as the State of Rhode Island.
