COLUMBUS, Miss. -- Two Mississippi State University Extension Service specialists are among featured speakers at this year’s Mississippi-Tennessee-Alabama Rural Tourism Conference Oct. 24-26.

The annual meeting will provide marketing and communication strategies to assist groups involved in creating attractions and tourism events in their communities. These groups include tourism professionals, fair boards, festival committees, garden clubs, community volunteers and local elected officials.

“This year’s program is all about problem-solving and improving the skills of the audience to help them grow their tourism products with trends, including bicycle tourism and developing and funding historical attractions,” said Rachael Carter, program planner and economic development specialist with the MSU Extension Center for Government and Community Development.

This year’s conference, to be held in Columbus at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, will also feature tours of local historical sites, antebellum homes, and downtown revitalization efforts such as the Old Tombigbee River pedestrian bridge.

Patrick Miller and Terrence Norwood of the Center for Government and Community Development will work with attendees to design tours and advertisements for prospective visitors to their communities. Miller and Norwood, Extension associates, assist in the planning, development, implementation, evaluation and documentation of educational programs for local governing authorities.

Registration is $95 before Oct. 7 and $150 after that date. Visit http://www.almstnruraltourism.com to register and learn more about the conference.