As tourism continues to grow in Henderson County, that growth presents both opportunities and challenges for residents. With that in mind, the county’s new tourism director, Michelle Owens, created a survey to help shape the future of local tourism efforts.

The 10-minute survey can be completed online until the end of June and touches on a variety of ways tourism impacts our community. Owens encourages all county residents to share their thoughts.

Henderson County ranks 14th out of 100 counties statewide for visitor spending. This results in an annual economic impact of nearly $325 million and sustains more than 2,000 local jobs. Owens realizes tourism can be an intricate issue for any community and seeks valuable input from citizens as the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority works on a strategic plan for its future.

“I see my job as encouraging tourists to visit Hendersonville while making sure the impact of tourism is as positive as possible,” Owens says. “It is a balancing act. We will strive to draw visitors while being mindful of the wants and needs of residents at the same time.”

The more feedback the TDA receives from citizens, the more data it will have to incorporate the needs of the community into the strategic plan.

The survey is open to Henderson County residents only. It is anonymous and collects minimal demographic data. It can be accessed at: https://www.visithendersonvillenc.org/survey.