Tourism, Entertainment and Arts

Business Conventions, Leisure Travel/Quality of Life

Goal: to develop a focused strategy to build up and coordinate the industry's services and attractions for the benefit of Columbus' visitors and residents

Columbus is currently listed 108th out of 200 in Forbes' Best Places for Businesses and Careers Survey. A solid placement, but not nearly the best we can achieve.

Investing time and resources to actively improve the Tourism, Entertainment and Arts cluster of industries in our region results in a more vibrant city: attractive for businesses, conventions and residents alike as a destination of choice.

The first step towards achieving this cluster's stated goal involved a discovery process to elucidate the status and current perceptions of relevant industries. Performed over the last two months; the discovery process revealed many strengths with much room for growth.

In a recent Columbus Chamber of Commerce Media Survey, respondents used adjectives such as, "Growing," and "Attractive to Business." Further roundtable discussions conducted by the Tourism, Entertainment and Arts cluster revealed that Columbus has considerable strengths on which to build.

Columbus holds many attractions, not unique among cities of our size. However, the ease of access to all of them is a distinguishing feature among comparable cities. Additionally, a young, highly educated, community of people who live and work in the region contribute greatly to our vibrancy. Our people are our greatest asset and holding on to these assets is a top priority to achieving growth.

Laura Walcher, a writer from San Diego, California reviewed Columbus for a feature article in The San Diego Union-Tribune. Her assessment reveals both the existing outside perception of Columbus and what Columbus residents already know: that, "These days, Columbus, Ohio qualifies for heavy-duty respect and guaranteed never-boring fun for visitors." "Cow town?" Walcher asks, "Nope. NOW Town."

As the Tourism, Entertainment and Arts cluster continues to focus efforts on coordinating the industry's services and attractions, the city can expect similar reviews. Improving the country's perception of Columbus and attracting further growth in the form of new businesses, improved convention attendance, and additional residents to contribute to the economic development of the region.

Based on the results of discovery process conducted by the Tourism, Entertainment and Arts Cluster, a strategic approach for creating growth within these industries is being developed. Key aspects of this plan include attracting outside investment into our community, building awareness of our region as a place to live and work, and attracting and keeping the best and the brightest young people in our community.