The Cultural Ecotourism Business Development Guide (Working Draft) is available for DOWNLOAD.

Comments can be sent to: cvesdplans@chickaloon.org
All comments are due by November 9, 2012.

The Chickaloon Final Tourism Survey Report – DOWNLOAD

Project Goal:

Development of a Cultural Ecotourism program utilizing collaborative partnerships with other Tribes, local governments, and non-profits.

Results or Benefits:

A greater understanding of economic opportunities associated with cultural ecotourism in the Matanuska Watershed.

Community-wide understanding of Chickaloon Village Traditional Council’s land stewardship ethic.

An understanding on how to develop several cultural ecotourism businesses for the region.

A Tribal Guide for Cultural Ecotourism Development for Chickaloon Village and the community to refer to and use for business opportunities in the future.

Increased statewide awareness of cultural ecotourism opportunities and partnerships.

Greater understanding on how to market to tourists and provide enhanced access to information about cultural ecotourism in Alaska.

Recognition as a Tribal entitiy taking a leadership role in enhancing the development for cultural ecotourism in Alaska.

Key Development Steps:

Collect data on Tribal cultural ecotourism in Alaska and elsewhere, and collect data on regional ecotourism and business opportunities.

Facilitate Tribal conversations about cultural ecotourism and develop a cultural tourism educational guide for the area.

Facilitate key stakeholders meetings to evaluate the future vision for cultural and ecotourism opportunities within the Matanuska Watershed.

Facilitate public outreach meetings to build good will and awareness around the details of this project within both the local community and extended service markets.

Conduct a randomly selected Matanuska Watershed community resident’s survey to establish priorities for the future growth and sustainability of the tourism economy.

Conduct a local economic assessment and target market analysis.

Develop business plans for cultural ecotourism business opportunities.

Identify key locations and current land ownership status within the Matanuska Watershed that would be suitable for ecotourism business opportunities.

Develop a financial model supporting the management and capital recommendations that outlines the economic impacts, likely investments required, and potential partnership opportunities and funding sources.

Develop a website that lists cultural ecotourism businesses and opportunites across the state with a link to their websites.

Host a Statewide Tribal Ecotourism Conference/Summit.

Ecotourism guide training.

This project would not have been possible without the generous support of Administration for Native Americans.