Story by Emyah Fortenberry
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Ritchie County High School student said a summer youth tourism program was a valuable experience.
Harley Gibson was a participant in the Governor’s School For Tourism.
“We learned what tourism is and saw different parts of the state and learned how everything is intertwined,” Gibson said at last week’s West Virginia Tourism Conference in Charleston.
West Virginia Secretary of Tourism Chelsea Ruby said the program was aimed at inspiring the next generation of tourism professionals. Gibson said he gained valuable insight into the world of tourism professionals during the 10-day academy that covered nearly 1,000 miles crisscrossing the state.
Over the course of the program, Gibson and his peers said they gained a deeper understanding of the strategic work that goes into promoting West Virginia’s natural beauty and culture. He said the most important lesson was communication.
“Without all the communication required, we wouldn’t have strong connections for trips for families,” he explained.
Harley was confident his experience in the program would help him in his future career.
“Getting around, getting to know people, and getting contacts and really being involved in things will help me get into what I want to do,” he added.
The program offers participants exposure to the tourism industry and opportunities to build skill and connections for their future careers.
Ruby said the program isn’t designed to push all the participants into tourism careers, but she hoped it would help students “end up loving West Virginia more.”