Abstract
This community-based research uses Q methodology to examine perceptions of tourism and downtown development in a lower Midwest town that has experienced continual economic downturn and decreasing population. With memories of the thriving ranching and oil heyday, some community members are approaching tourism as the new black gold. At the same time, there is a perception of a fractious community characterized by a heritage of racism, cultural tension, and an aging, burned-out volunteer base. One of the goals of this study was to help community planners make sense out of what they perceived as a jumble of viewpoints. The results of a Q study can help planners determine in a systematic way the significant, persistent attitudes surrounding the issue of tourism development from a broad community perspective. The Chamber of Commerce board members, community leaders, and volunteers used this study as a building block for their strategic plan in tourism.
Highlights
From the rolling green hills of the East through the farmlands of the Midwest to the great expanse of the West, small towns in the United States tend to have the same economic landscape, one that is gradually and continually eroding
The rural community whose residents participated in this study found itself turning to tourism as an alternative development strategy
The researchers presented a lesson on Q methodology and the results (The 3-Type Analysis) of the Bison Plains study on tourism attitudes
Summary
From the rolling green hills of the East through the farmlands of the Midwest to the great expanse of the West, small towns in the United States tend to have the same economic landscape, one that is gradually and continually eroding. Geographic isolation only tends to speed the decline Many of these communities have given up on attracting traditional industry and instead have turned to alternatives such as tourism and recreation. The rural community whose residents participated in this study found itself turning to tourism as an alternative development strategy It is like most of its counterparts across the country, economically depressed with a declining population. Part of what makes this rural town (hereafter referred to as “Bison Plains”1) unique is a history rooted in cowboys, Native Americans, and oilmen. What makes it one of a kind is its position as the seat of three governments: city, county, and tribal.
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