ECD

Community Development & Community Celebrations: Much More than a Parade

In the community where I live, the Fourth of July is a big deal. The biggest deal, really, in terms of our community celebrations. For a full week leading up to the big day, we have all sorts of events and activities - all culminating in a parade on the afternoon of the Fourth.

Those of us who take part in these sorts of community events - festivals, parades, etc. - probably have a strong sense that these occasions are not just neutral events, but rather have an impact on our community. I recently ran across an academic paper that presents some research that confirms and documents that notion. Gianna Moscardo with the James Cook University Department of Tourism in Queensland, Australia wrote a report entitled, Analyzing the Role of Festivals and Events in Regional Development. It was published in Event Management (vol 11, pp 23-32).

The economic impact of festivals has been pretty well documented. Moscardo takes a different perspective, compiling several additional findings from 36 case studies. Here is what she learned about potential positive and negative impacts:

Economic Impact

• Positive: income, multiplier effect from visitor spending, employment
• Negative: increased prices for locals, opportunity costs

Tourism

• Positive: enhanced image as a "destination," extension of the tourism season
• Negative: risk of reputation damage

Physical

• Positive: new facilities and infrastructure, regeneration of rundown areas
• Negative: environmental damage, overcrowding, congestion

Sociocultural

• Positive: social opportunities for locals, improved social networks
• Negative: commodization of culture, antisocial behavior, dissatisfaction with event image

Psychological

• Positive: enhanced sense of community, excitement and pride
• Negative: conflict

Regional Development

• Positive: enhanced skills for volunteers and participants, support for other regional products and services, development of partnerships and alliances
• Negative: conflict with other regional activities

Great Economic & Community Development Articles in the Journal of Extension

Submitted by Laura Hoelscher, Editor, Journal of Extension

During his presentation at the ECD Retreat last week, Chuck Hibberd referred Nebraska's Red Carpet Service program. You can read all about, "Red Carpet Service--Linking Rural Communities to Travelers and Tourists" in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of Extension (JOE).

And the April issue of JOE also has a few articles that may interest you, including another article on rural tourism and one on building entrepreneurship and leadership in rural communities. Check it out here.