Abstract:
This paper focuses on proposing economic development strategies for mid-sized rural
communities dealing with rapidly increasing tourism as a result of their wine industries. These
development strategies are aimed at mitigating any negative effects to the community resulting
from increased wine tourism while capitalizing on the positive effects.
This paper focuses specifically on Walla Walla, Washington but several of the findings and recommendations
can be carried forward towards other research and applied to other communities
throughout the country.
The paper explores some of the issues surrounding rapid economic development due to
tourism. It also describes elements of economic and socio-cultural sustainability that are important
to developing a healthy and viable economic development strategy.