swain

Why are businesses and attractions in Swain County being forced to join the Swain County Chamber of Commerce just to be listed on the Swain County Tourism Development Authority web site? In other NC counties this listing is free. The TDA is paid for with the occupancy taxes that are collected monthly. According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Tourism Division www.visit nc.com they (the chamber) can't force a business to join the chamber to be listed on the site, but the Swain County Chamber of Commerce continues to force a membership fee for the privilege of being on the web site.
Based on the chamber's membership information, a company gets a "free" listing on visit nc with their membership....guess what ...everywhere else in NC that listing is free without a chamber membership.