Group arrives in Washington, D.C.
Evening walking tour of Kennedy Center
Walking tour of Washington, D.C. Union Station, Capitol Hill. Transportation via Metro, accompanied by Professor George Bowen and Mr. Richard Davis.
Morning: World Learning Orientation with Ms. Krista Loumans and Mr. Richard Wellons,
Program Officers.
Afternoon: George Washington University with Dr. Donald Dawkins and Ms. Kristin
Lamoureaux. Reception at the GWU Club, hosted by Associates in Rural Development (ARD).
Morning: GWU program, continued. Introduction to UT program and orientation by Professor Bowen and Mr. Davis.
Afternoon: National Park Service (NPS) guest speaker, Ms. Marianne Peak, Superintendent, Adams National Historical Park, Quincy, Mass. Role of NPS; relationship with state and local organizations. Working with private sector and local population in and around parks to encourage tourism while minimizing
overcrowding strain on natural and built settings. Depart Dulles Airport for Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Morning: Official welcome at the University of Tennessee and campus tour.
Afternoon: Tourism and Ecotourism Development Overview with Professor Bowen.
Morning: Presentation, "Tourism Marketing Concepts: The Tennessee Heritage Trails," by Tennessee Department of Tourist Development regional directors, Ms. Lee Curtis and Ms. Agnes Gorham.
Evening: Reception at the home of Dr. Robert Orr, International Coordinator..
Morning: Presentation on income generated by regional ecotourism by Dr. Susan Smith. Travel to Cosby, Tennessee meeting with the former Director of Tourism, Cocke County. Visit shop a local popular hand-crafted musical instruments, dulcimers, are made and sold
Horseback riding at the French Broad Outpost Ranch. 10-Km. hike on the Appalachian Trail. Evening entertainment at "Hillbillies." Overnight at the ranch.
Survey assessment of goods, services and facilities by participants (developed in Bulgaria). Attend the (Smoky Mountain) Foothills Craft Guild craft show and discuss the show's management and promotion with the organizers.
Morning: Visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Meet with one of the park's managers, Mr. Chris Stein, and discuss park programs and the relationship of the park with surrounding communities. Meet with Mr. G. Wolpert, a local restaurateur, who is also CEO of a foundation that provides funds to joint partnering activities between the National Park Service and local gateway community leaders
Morning: Visit the historic Cades Cove community within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Accompanied by Mr. Herb Handly, Executive Vice President for Tourism, Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau (Blount County). Tour the Cove with Mssrs. Handly and Steve McCoy, NPS District Park ranger involved in training programs for community leaders to increase two-way communication and understanding of both NPS and community issues.
Evening: Meet with community leaders to discuss how towns surrounding have or have not been able to capitalize upon the park's success.
Fall Creek Falls State Park. Drive to Nashville. Meetings at the Tennessee State Capitol Building. Participants proclaimed Tennessee Ambassadors of Goodwill in the Governor's Office. Group hosted for dinner by Commissioner Dan Wheeler and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture at Ellington Agricultural Center.
Tour of downtown Nashville. Tour of historic Belle Meade Plantation. Return to Knoxville.
Stake-holder discussion with Professor Bowen. Wrap-up discussions. Presentations of action plans. Farewell and certificate dinner.
Depart Knoxville
