St. Tammany board approves $325,000 tourism plan

St. Tammany Parish has relied on ad hoc decisions for its tourism industry for decades. On Oct. 27, that informal approach ended when the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission approved its first 10-year Destination Master Plan.

The commission voted unanimously to accept the plan during a regular meeting at the Visit the Northshore office near Mandeville. The document cost $325,000 to produce. Donna O’Daniels, the president and CEO of Visit the Northshore, described the approval as the most impactful action of her 31-year tenure with the organization.

“This is the biggest thing we have done in the 31 years I’ve been here, so congratulations to this board,” O’Daniels said.

The plan was developed by MMGY Nextfactor, an international destination marketing firm. The firm spent more than a year gathering data. It held public gatherings, town hall meetings, and focus groups. It also distributed digital surveys to residents and visitors. The commission paid for this work using its fund for special projects.

The strategy outlines five goals. It aims to invest in destination infrastructure, protect natural assets, express local culture, grow sports and family travel, and improve access between towns. The board will use five separate work groups to decide which projects to implement first. Additional funds in 2027 will support the execution of these recommendations.

O’Daniels said the immediate priorities are research studies on hotels, amateur sports, and outdoor attractions. The board also plans to continue the Community Mural Project. This effort will bring murals to additional towns. The organization also intends to install better wayfinding and signage to help visitors navigate between communities.

Some recommendations will take longer to complete. O’Daniels expressed interest in developing the northern part of the parish as an equestrian destination. She noted that this project requires coordination and research to understand visitor needs. She estimated the project is a few years away.

The full master plan will be available online at www.visitthenorthshore.com in the coming weeks. The commission’s next regular meeting is set for Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. at the Visit the Northshore office at 68099 La. 59.