Rural Tourism Planning as Experiential Learning - A Collaborative Step Toward Community Prosperity

<p> Presentation given at the National Extension Tourism Conference. Human Sciences, Georgia Southern University This study was prompted by the archaeological discovery of significant features and artifacts related to a Civil War prison camp located in Jenkins County, Georgia. Given the county&rsquo;s 17.9% unemployment and 27.2% poverty rates, officials view the Civil War site as a potential tourism attraction able to contribute to community prosperity. Developed as an experiential learning tool for undergraduate tourism students at Georgia Southern University, the study utilized Gunn&rsquo;s &horbar;Functioning Tourism System Model&Vert; as a methodological framework. Objectives of the study were to a) delineate a destination zone centered in Jenkins County, b) assess the zone&rsquo;s attraction, service, and transportation resources, c) identify potential tourism experiences and target markets, and d) conduct a SWOT Analysis focused on the destination zone and the Civil War theme. The &horbar;Lessons Learned&Vert; from the study methodology can be of utility to Extension Specialists facing severe community prosperity issues in regions with untapped tourism resources.</p>