Strategic Planning

The mission of the Walton County Tourism Department is to protect and strengthen the South Walton brand in order to bolster the Walton County tourism economy. The Tourism Department will manage and maintain our beaches as a primary attraction and serve as the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) responsible for protecting and promoting tourism and the high quality of life enjoyed in Walton County.

The tourism department is guided by a comprehensive strategic plan with set goals and objectives.

Throughout the year, staff and consultants work diligently to collect research of interest to the tourism industry and community, compile monthly reports recording activities that directly correlate with the strategic plan, and present information at the bi-monthly Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting and Advisory Committee meetings.

The TDC, the nine-member board which provides fiduciary oversight of the tourism department, serves as the primary strategic advisor to the Walton County Board of County Commissioners on issues and opportunities facing the community from a tourism perspective. It is for this reason that the TDC and the tourism department embarked upon a strategic planning process during the third quarter of 2018.

As the environment in which the tourism department operates continues to evolve, it needs to continually re-position itself and its programming to continue to build the visitor economy in an increasingly competitive environment, while balancing the needs, interests, and quality of life concerns within the community.

The 2019-2021 Strategic Plan can be viewed HERE.

Building off the momentum from the 2019-2021 strategic planning process, the tourism department contracted with DMO Proz once again help guide the organization’s efforts in the strategic planning process. Bill Geist from DMO Proz, who is well-regarded in the DMO space, facilitated the process. Having worked with him on the previous strategic plan, he is incredibly familiar with the destination, its attributes, challenges, and opportunities.

After months of hard work, thoughtful insight and community involvement, the Walton County Tourism Department has finalized its 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, which can be viewed HERE.