As many rural communities are searching for ways to increase their local economy, several of these communities have begun to turn their attention to the tourism industry. By turning their attention to the tourism industry, they are searching for ways to increase tourism in hopes of bringing in additional revenue that is needed for revitalizing many of these communities. These rural communities are \"focused on maximizing individual spending, and providing products and experiences as an incentive to tourists to stay longer and return on repeat visits\" (Briedenhann & Wickens, 2004, p. 72). Also, waterparks, as well as amusement parks and theme parks, have become \"motivators for tourism trips to many destination and core elements of the tourism product\" (Raluca & Gina, 2008, p. 635).
","abstract_html":"<p>As many rural communities are searching for ways to increase their local economy, several of these communities have begun to turn their attention to the tourism industry. By turning their attention to the tourism industry, they are searching for ways to increase tourism in hopes of bringing in additional revenue that is needed for revitalizing many of these communities. These rural communities are "focused on maximizing individual spending, and providing products and experiences as an incentive to tourists to stay longer and return on repeat visits" (Briedenhann & Wickens, 2004, p. 72). Also, waterparks, as well as amusement parks and theme parks, have become "motivators for tourism trips to many destination and core elements of the tourism product" (Raluca & Gina, 2008, p. 635).</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Sims, Stephen M."],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Doctor of Education (EdD)","degree_level":"Doctoral's","degree_discipline":"Educational Leadership and Policy Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2017-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:39Z","subjects":["Appalachia","Ecconomic Impact","IMPLAN Model","Rural Tourism","Tourism Industry","Waterpark Industry","Tourism and Travel"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2017 Stephen M. Sims"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/467","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Sims, Stephen M."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Educational Leadership and Policy Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Doctoral's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Education (EdD)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Appalachia","Ecconomic Impact","IMPLAN Model","Rural Tourism","Tourism Industry","Waterpark Industry","Tourism and Travel"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2017 Stephen M. Sims"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/467"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["As many rural communities are searching for ways to increase their local economy, several of these communities have begun to turn their attention to the tourism industry. By turning their attention to the tourism industry, they are searching for ways to increase tourism in hopes of bringing in additional revenue that is needed for revitalizing many of these communities. These rural communities are \"focused on maximizing individual spending, and providing products and experiences as an incentive to tourists to stay longer and return on repeat visits\" (Briedenhann & Wickens, 2004, p. 72). Also, waterparks, as well as amusement parks and theme parks, have become \"motivators for tourism trips to many destination and core elements of the tourism product\" (Raluca & Gina, 2008, p. 635).
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Waterparks' Impact On Rural Communities In Eastern Kentucky"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Sims, Stephen M."],"dc:description.abstract":["As many rural communities are searching for ways to increase their local economy, several of these communities have begun to turn their attention to the tourism industry. By turning their attention to the tourism industry, they are searching for ways to increase tourism in hopes of bringing in additional revenue that is needed for revitalizing many of these communities. These rural communities are \"focused on maximizing individual spending, and providing products and experiences as an incentive to tourists to stay longer and return on repeat visits\" (Briedenhann & Wickens, 2004, p. 72). Also, waterparks, as well as amusement parks and theme parks, have become \"motivators for tourism trips to many destination and core elements of the tourism product\" (Raluca & Gina, 2008, p. 635).
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/467"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2017 Stephen M. Sims"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["Appalachia","Ecconomic Impact","IMPLAN Model","Rural Tourism","Tourism Industry","Waterpark Industry","Tourism and Travel"],"dc:title":["Waterparks' Impact On Rural Communities In Eastern Kentucky"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Educational Leadership and Policy Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctoral's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Education (EdD)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:15:39Z"}