Walton County taking measured strategy to develop tourism app

SANTA ROSA BEACH – Walton County’s officers are taking a measured approach to the Walton County Tourist Development Council’s (TDC) efforts to get a digital tourism application up and running.

Initial plans envisage that the app will enable tourists to book beach structures (umbrellas and chairs) from providers. In the long term, however, the app is intended as a home for accessing other tourism services, including but not limited to: weather information, travel planning assistance, and live webcams with a view of the area.

In addition, the app would also offer the ability to issue “push notifications” that would provide users with instant information on beach safety issues such as dangerous currents.

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The app would be financed from the 5% “bed tax” charged to visitors to the district. The tax increases millions of dollars each year, with expenses requiring approval from the Walton County Board of County Commissioners.

Following a hearing from TDC Executive Director Jay Tusa at a recent Commission meeting and a 31-page call for proposals (RFP) by qualified digital app developers, the commissioners unanimously voted to bring in a local third-party expert to draft the lengthy document, before it is published for responses from interested parties.

“I know what the purpose of the app is, and I think that’s the direction we need to go,” said Commissioner Mike Barker, who requested the third party verification that things are over my head … and I read the RFP, some of the phrases I don’t understand. “

“I would ask that we let an uninterested third party – someone with IT experience – know about this and make sure we don’t forget anything,” Barker said, mentioning the name of someone he felt qualified to do the job.

The commissioners followed Barker’s suggestion, but indicated that the expert’s work with the TDC – there was no indication of how much or even whether the expert would be paid to weigh up the RFP – needed to be kept secret.

“We really need to make sure that what (the external reviewer) is doing while working with the TDC doesn’t get to the public,” warned Commissioner Tony Anderson, “because we have local people who are going to do that.” Bid on them and we don’t want you to have an unfair advantage or disadvantage. I don’t want anyone … somehow disqualified for having information beforehand. “

In presenting the RFP to the commissioners, Tusa noted that the initial focus on setting up beaches reflected previous discussions with them in which they expressed a desire to have some control over when and where beach kits are rented and placed. This concern arose from ongoing citizen complaints about the number of “ghost sets” that were installed but unoccupied on the county’s beaches.

“We wanted to mainly focus on the beach sales components at launch and add those (other services) later,” said Tusa.

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According to the RFP, the app could also likely provide some services in support of the district government, including granting permits for special events, bonfires, and other beach activities, as well as the ability to fine beach vendors for violating local regulations.

The app developer ultimately selected for the project is expected to provide the county with demographic data derived from the app, including tracking app downloads, the number of active users and the parts of the The world from which the app originates is accessed and which services available via the app are used.

According to the RFP, the app developer who might ultimately be selected for the project – the document gives the county the right to decline some or all of the answers – must have at least three years of app development experience and submit no less than three Examples of successful app developments that meet the requirements of the district.

As written, the RFP gives all interested developers the opportunity to ask the district questions about their request until June 5th. The current schedule stipulates that the district will open all suggestions received on the afternoon of July 5th before decisions are made about how to proceed.