North Carolina’s Eastern Region will host the second annual Tourism Mini-Summit in Greenville through a collaboration with the NCER Tourism Advisory Group.

The summit, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled for Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Hilton Greenville.

The symposium will feature several keynote speakers on the necessity and impact of the tourism industry in eastern North Carolina. Subject matter will include discussions regarding sustainable tourism, agritourism, the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and familiarization tours in eastern North Carolina.

“Those of us who inhabit eastern North Carolina are well aware of the array of resources and opportunities that our region affords potential tourists,” NCER President and Chief Executive Officer John D. Chaffee said. “It is our responsibility as residents to foster an awareness of our natural capital and utilize it to show others what makes eastern North Carolina the perfect vacation attraction. Our Tourism Mini-Summit gives our residents and leaders the opportunity to discuss our region’s potential with those who specialize in making eastern North Carolina a tourist hot spot.”

Discussions will feature the following speakers:

Pat Long, ECU Center for Sustainable Tourism;

Martha Glass-Manager, Agritourism Office for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service;

Ed Emory, former director of N.C. Cooperative Extension of NCSU in Duplin County;

Michelle Lanier, curator of cultural history, N.C. Division of State Historic Sites and Properties;

Mikie Wall, Wilmington-Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.

North Carolina’s Eastern Region is a 13-county partnership established by the General Assembly to promote economic development in Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Lenoir, Pitt, Wayne, Greene, Duplin, Jones, Onslow, Pamlico, Craven and Carteret Counties. The region encompasses almost 7,000 square miles and approximately one million residents.

RSVP to attend the mini-summit by calling (800) 474-8499 or register online at www.nceast.org or www.visitnceast.org.