DDC to Lead Creation of a Destination Master Plan

By Michelle Rasmusson, Director of Strategy & Research, Destination Door County

Over the coming months, members of our community will work together to craft a Destination Master Plan, with the purpose of identifying issues and opportunities to enhance the quality of life for the people who call Door County home as well as those that choose to visit.

What is involved in the process?

The entire county will undergo a thorough assessment, evaluating market and consumer habits, and collecting relevant statistics such as the current market and available product offerings. Additionally, there will be a review of all available studies, plans, and strategic documents, an exploration of local, national, and international trends, and a comprehensive DestinationNEXT assessment, with input from local organizations. The purpose of the DestinationNEXT study is to research, analyze and present findings which will help guide Destination Door County as we continue to successfully evolve into the future.

The area’s decision-makers and residents will be invited to participate in the initiative by engaging in steering committee meetings to provide guidance, giving individual interviews, taking part in focus groups with topics ranging from transportation and accommodations to infrastructure and the environment, and exchanging views with the entire community to discuss both opportunities and challenges. They will also review the results of a poll conducted among the citizens of Door County, focusing on characteristics of tourists, the types of tourism they prefer, future aspirations, and the sentiment