OXFORD – Representatives from small communities will get the chance to learn how to attract tourists by promoting their towns’ unique history, culture and charm at the annual Alabama-Mississippi Rural Tourism Conference Oct. 25-27.

The conference is sponsored by the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Tennessee Tombigbee Tourism Association and other community and economic development entities.

This year’s event is in Oxford at the Downtown Oxford Inn and Suites. Registration is $95 by Oct. 10 and $150 after that date. Registration information can be found at http://www.almsruraltourism.com. Contact the inn at 1-800-606-1497 to make reservations.

The agenda includes presentations on unique ways of using culinary arts, geocaching, cemeteries and photography to attract tourists. An early arrival tour on Oct. 25 will feature the town’s historic landmarks, such as the downtown square, William Faulkner’s Rowan Oak mansion, the L.Q.C. Lamar House and the University of Mississippi.

Oxford, which Lucky magazine described as a “small town with big style,” has successfully marketed itself to increase the number of tourists.

“Many small towns face the challenge of determining what is unique about them and how to draw tourists to those attractions,” said Extension community and strategic planning associate Rachael Carter of the MSU Department of Agricultural Economics. “Oxford has been quite successful in meeting this challenge. Its successes may give other communities new ideas for promoting themselves.”

For more information, contact Agnes Zaiontz at the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority at (662) 328-3286 or azaiontz@tenntom.org, Rachael Carter at carter@agecon.msstate.edu, or visit http://www.almsruraltourism.com.