A partnership between the Warren County Visitors Bureau and Maps Technology of Venango County holds a lot of potential.

The $3,600 program could give the Visitor’s Bureau a better way to reach potential tourists through their smart phones and provide better data than the bureau currently receives about who is visiting the county. That information, in turn, would allow the Visitor’s Bureau to spend more time and effort promoting Warren County within the region where there seems to be existing interest or to people who are visiting Warren County for certain types of activities.

On that front, the agreement is a good one. Everyone wants to make the county’s limited tourism budget is spent wisely, and having additional information about county visitors could generate additional ideas about new events or new themes that could draw more people into the county.

The sticking point is promotion.

Staffing at the visitor’s bureau is limited, just like it is everywhere else these days. And for this partnership to pay off, the Warren County Visitor’s Bureau will need to get people to participate by scanning QR codes with their smartphones or by filling out forms.

That may limit or skew the data being received because we know people tend to avoid filling out surveys if they can possibly do so.

Visitor’s Bureau officials will need a robust program to get people to participate. Or else, this partnership won’t fulfill its potential.