News Summary
The recent Dare County Tourism Board meeting on April 17 in the Outer Banks introduced two pivotal initiatives: the Outer Banks Promise and Soft Shell Week. With a focus on promoting responsible tourism and community engagement, the Outer Banks Promise encourages positive behavior from both visitors and locals. Financial discussions included new accounting services and projected budgets. Additionally, excitement builds for Soft Shell Week, celebrating local cuisine from May 12-17, showcasing the region’s famed soft shell crabs and fostering community collaboration.
Exciting Developments Unfold at the Dare County Tourism Board Meeting
In the charming coastal town of Outer Banks, the latest board meeting held by the Dare County Tourism Board on April 17 sparked quite the buzz among locals and visitors alike. The spotlight was on two vibrant initiatives: the Outer Banks Promise and the upcoming Soft Shell Week. Both efforts aim to enhance the beloved community and encourage responsible tourism.
Introducing the Outer Banks Promise
Jeff Schwartzenberg, the community engagement manager for the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau, unveiled a fresh design for the Midgett Realty T-shirt which endorses the Outer Banks Promise. This initiative, launched in June 2024, advocates for responsible behavior not only from visitors but also from residents.
The Outer Banks Promise is a heartfelt tribute to the region’s breathtaking environment, vibrant culture, and the overall quality of life that everyone cherishes. The initiative encourages folks to embrace seven simple yet impactful pledges that revolve around themes like discovery, opportunity, respect for the environment, wildlife safety, and supporting local businesses.
With around 30 companies and organizations already on board, the first restaurant to step up was the iconic Black Pelican. Marking their commitment to this cause, the town of Kitty Hawk was also hailed for being the first municipality to engage their full staff in embracing the Promise.
The focus now is to raise awareness within the local community, cutting the outreach to broader audiences until the message is well-rooted amongst locals. This could be a game-changer for tourism and preservation, combining the area’s natural beauty with responsible visitor engagement.
Financially Speaking…
After careful consideration, the board chose Carr, Riggs and Ingram to take on the accounting contract at proposed prices: $16,100 for fiscal year 2024-2025, $16,850 for 2025-2026, and $17,750 for 2026-2027. Smart financial planning seems to be at the forefront of the board’s agenda!
This led to the initial discussion about the fiscal year 2025-2026 budget. The proposed budget comes in at $25,656,696, showcasing a 3% increase. Interestingly, this is still nearly 12% beneath this year’s actual receipts.
The financial highlights show a mixed bag with a 1% decrease in fiscal year occupancy receipts, while on a brighter note, meals receipts have risen by 5.7% and retail collections experienced a whopping 7.9% boost in January. February brought even more sunshine into the revenue forecast, with gross meals sales showing an impressive 26% increase compared to February 2024!
As of now, total revenues through February are reported at a confident 104% of the budget, with fund expenses remaining comfortably within the budgeted amounts. This spells good news for the local economy!
Bring On Soft Shell Week!
Looking ahead, excitement is building for Soft Shell Week scheduled from May 12 to May 17, where a fantastic thirty restaurants will participate, showcasing a variety of delectable dishes that highlight the Outer Banks’ famed soft shell crabs. And there’s still room for additional late sign-ups!
Lastly, mark your calendars because the next Dare County Tourism Board meeting is set for 9 a.m. on May 15, featuring a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 budget. Plus, there’s an array of fun events lined up at the Soundside Event Site, such as the Soundside Market on April 19 and the OBX Rod and Custom Festival on May 2-3.
The buzz in the air is palpable as the Outer Banks continues to welcome visitors and residents alike, fostering a vibrant, responsible, and community-supported environment.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Outer Banks Community Foundation Distributes Grants to Local Nonprofits
Community Input Sought for Long-Term Occupancy Housing Development in Kill Devil Hills
Wanchese Struggles Amidst North Carolina’s Fishing Crisis
Changes to Kill Devil Hills’ Cluster Homes Regulations
Outer Banks Wins 2025 Vacation of the Year
Outer Banks Faces Housing Crisis Amid Tourism Boom
Outer Banks Faces Workforce Housing Crisis Amid Tourism Boom
Outer Banks Construction and Tourism Initiatives Update
Greenville Promotes Mental Health Awareness on R U Ok? Day
Innovative Construction Methods Address Housing Crisis
Additional Resources
- The Coastland Times: Shirts Promoting Outer Banks Promise
- Wikipedia: Outer Banks
- Rolling Stone: Outer Banks Season 4 Teaser
- Google Search: Outer Banks Season 4
- Trill Mag: What to Expect in Outer Banks Season 4
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Outer Banks, North Carolina
- Screen Rant: Outer Banks Season 4 Part 2 Ending Explained
- Google News: Soft Shell Week Outer Banks
