The tourism industry is a key and vital component of the economic engine that drives the Walton County economy. A proposal has been made by the Walton County Board of County Commissioners to enter into a public/private partnership with the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce for the management of the Walton County Tourist Development Council.

The TDC has a long history of attracting high value tourist to the Beaches of South Walton. That growth has been guided by professionals trained in the talents unique to the tourism industry. Past directors have brought talents and ideas that have moved the tourism industry to a new level with each change in leadership.

Walton County is poised to experience a new growth in tourism based on the emerging markets developed through the new airport to open in Bay County on May 23rd 2010. The area will explode when low cost carriers with direct flights into this area arrive. We must reach out into the tourism management arena and find a trained professional that can guide our tourism industry to the next level. We must find and hire the best professional available.

We must not settle for less than the best available.

We therefore request that the Board of County Commissioner immediately begin the search for the best available tourism director through a regional and national search.

We oppose the public/private partnership under consideration even on an interim basis and ask that the Board of County Commissions reject the proposal and immediately begin the search process.  

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