Both housing and tourism have access and equity roadblocks. As one of Thrive’s core values, we seek to increase equity and access in the work that we do and within these initiative areas.
In 2021, Thrive brought together a cohort of 34 community members from diverse perspectives to do a deep dive into the topic of sustainable tourism. Called the Ideas to Action Forum, the process included extensive learning about the history of tourism locally and how popular destinations elsewhere manage visitation and develop collaborative partnerships and projects to leverage the benefits and mitigate impacts. The cohort concluded by identifying areas that show potential for balancing the needs of local residents and tourism in our community, including a BIPOC entrepreneurship program and the Destination Stewardship model.
In 2024, are supporting the Greater Access to Tourism Entrepreneurship (GATE) program in partnership with Black Wall Street, Mountain BizWorks, and Explore Asheville, supporting 10 BIPOC entrepreneurs as they build and grow businesses in the tourism sector.
The entrepreneurial ecosystem can be challenging to navigate, especially when you consider issues of access and equity in the tourism industry. GATE is another example of Thrive’s dedication to developing intentional partnerships for greater impact. In our capacity as administrative support for this program, we are honored to help ensure success for local Ashevillians as they grow their businesses and thrive.