Western Carolina University will have a second annual conference:
to attract elected and appointed government officials, representatives of tourism and economic development organizations and chambers of commerce, and owners and operators of private-sector businesses in the hospitality and tourism industry. The focus will be on planning festivals and events designed to lure visitors to Western North Carolina arose during last year’s inaugural tourism conference . . .
Don’t laugh. Native Americans performed ritualistic dances to appease ye gads in control of mysteries considered beyond the reach of human cause and effect, like today’s economists consider the economy. Then, when the White Men sequestered the natives onto the res, tourists paid big money to watch the colorful displays.
