Residents Invited to Help Shape Washtenaw Tourism Plan

Destination Ann Arbor has started a countywide conversation about what tourism should look like in the years ahead, beginning in Milan with the first community listening session tied to its new Tourism Impact Plan.

The organization is developing a 10-year plan for tourism across Washtenaw County and is asking residents to weigh in through both in-person sessions and an online survey, which is open through April 30 at AnnArbor.org/TIP. Additional sessions are scheduled for Chelsea on April 9, Dexter on April 16 and Saline on April 22.

Tim Crouson, director of research for Destination Ann Arbor, said the organization went through a similar planning process in 2019, but that effort never fully rolled out after COVID-19 changed travel patterns and community priorities. Since then, he said, the group has been operating under shorter strategic plans and saw this as the right time to build a longer-range vision. Crouson said the listening sessions are meant to reach beyond the stakeholders Destination Ann Arbor already hears from and gather “really honest feedback” from residents about how tourism affects daily life in their communities and what opportunities might be getting missed.

In Milan, the conversation centered less on chasing large-scale growth and more on preserving what residents already love about the city. Participant Andrew Felder said Milan “possesses Hallmark vibes,” while others pointed to its local shops, historic downtown and slower pace as strengths worth protecting. Several residents said they wanted to see tourism support independent businesses and thoughtful growth without pushing Milan toward becoming “another Ann Arbor.” Others said part of Milan’s appeal is that it feels welcoming and inclusive while still holding onto its small-town character.

Tina Walther pointed to one feature residents saw as part of that appeal, saying Milan is “the only city that doesn’t have a main thoroughfare through the downtown.” Others said that quieter, more walkable feel, along with the diversity of local shops, is exactly what should be highlighted as the plan moves forward.

Crouson said Destination Ann Arbor plans to review the survey and listening session responses for themes, including where views are shared across communities and where they differ by place, age or other demographics. That feedback will feed into visioning workshops in June, followed by plan development later this year, with the goal of completing the plan in the fourth quarter and beginning implementation in early 2027.

Featured image: Residents participate in a Destination Ann Arbor Tourism Impact Plan listening session in Milan, where community members shared input on the future of tourism in Washtenaw County. Photo by Heather Finch