OTTUMWA, Iowa -- Visitors are drawn to Iowa from the east and west coasts, Canada and points in between by Iowa Elderhostel programs. More than 300 visitors from 32 states and Canada came to Iowa for Elderhostel programs since Iowa State University began offering the program last year. Iowa Elderhostel is directed by Diane Van Wyngarden, ISU Extension community and economic development specialist.
Van Wyngarden enjoys discovering inter-connected Iowa experiences as she creates and delivers the Elderhostel programs. “By looking beyond the immediate region – to communities an hour or more away – we can create themed Elderhostel trips that connect a variety of experiences,” said Van Wyngarden. “This has great tourism appeal – and occasionally we have a nice, successful surprise and discover connections between communities that were not apparent at the outset of the planning.”
Van Wyngarden conducts research, along with planning and delivering the programs, to learn what it is about Iowa that appeals to the age 55-plus national travelers. “They want to have a variety of experiences – not just see interesting places and sites. They are interested in hands-on activities and personal interaction as they learn about the area they are visiting,” said Van Wyngarden. “We are finding that people will come to Iowa for experiences they cannot have closer to home.
Communities should consider themed tours to build tourism, according to Van Wyngarden. She uses the Upper Mississippi River Elderhostel as an example. That program combines the obvious river excursions with lessons about river commerce and ecology, and the history of river towns and their people. During this Elderhostel program, tourists join a towboat pilot narrating a cruise through the “locks,” take a pontoon ride with a commercial clammer and an authentic paddlewheel steamboat cruise with a costumed historian and live music.
“History is very popular with our national travelers,” Van Wyngarden said. The tourism industry defines traveler as anyone traveling more than 50 miles for business or pleasure. “When communities add the rich diversity of their residents’ interests and experiences to the historical component, travelers are attracted to them.”
Prior tourism research established the four-to-one rule which says a community needs four hours of activity for every hour the traveler spends getting to their community. “Our research shows the ratio increases when air travel is involved,” said Van Wyngarden. “Travelers seek at least five days of experiences to justify one day of air travel to Iowa. Our Elderhostel pilot programs demonstrate how even small communities can successfully capture a piece of that national tourism market. When Iowa communities partner with each other and develop a themed itinerary with five days of very unique experiences, they can attract national and even international travelers.”
As communities think about engaging visitors at their local attractions, Van Wyngarden also advises thinking in terms of things grandparents can do with their elementary age grandchildren.
“Baby boomers and their grandchildren are a growing market,” she said. “As the grandparents retire, they are looking for travel opportunities that they can share with grandchildren as a way to reconnect with them and build a bond.”
Van Wyngarden’s research findings guide the successful development and delivery of ISU Elderhostel programs. Even in the current economy and with a downturn in tourism nationally, the 2008 ISU Elderhostel programs did very well and enrollment for scheduled 2009 programs is good.
“ISU Extension Elderhostel is continuing to study tourism trends and evolve our programs accordingly,” said Van Wyngarden.
More details about ISU Extension Elderhostel and links to the national Elderhostel program is available at www.extension.iastate.edu/communities/elderhostel/ or by calling Van Wyngarden at (641) 682-8324 or emailing her at dvw@iastate.edu .
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