CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM IN THE NEWS.... CURRENT NEWS

MARCH 1-15, 2009

"Go With a Purpose" With Heritage Travel, Inc.
3/11/09

MSNBC
Heritage Travel, Inc., a new subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, connects people who share passions for heritage- and culture-rich experiences.  Heritage travelers can submit reviews of their favorite heritage destinations at www.gowithapurpose.com.

Agri-tourism leaders gather to exchange ideas

3/9/2009
Gulf Coast Newspapers - Daphne, AL

Alabama explores the possibility of creating a statewide agri-tourism coalition.

Guilford considered for 'National Heritage Area'

3/9/2009
Greensboro News Record - Greensboro, North Carolina

Parks of central North Carolina and South Carolina are being considered as a potential National Heritage Area.  This process began last summer with the completion of a feasibility study.

Push cultural tourism, consultant tells Richmond area

3/9/2009
Richmond Times Dispatch - Richmond,VA,USA

Consultants WolfBrown recommended a focus on cultural tourism as one of six major goals for arts leaders in Richmond, Virginia as part of a report completed for the Richmond Region Cultural Action Plan task force. 

CIB cuts $400000 in arts, tourism funds

3/9/2009
Indianapolis Star - Indianapolis, Indiana
The Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board cut approximately $400,000 in grants to arts and tourism groups. 

Region Using Coal's History to Mine for Tourism Dollars

3/8/2009
istockAnalyst.com (press release) - Salem, OR

Western Kentucky tourism officials are planning ahead for the 2020 bicentennial of the Kentucky coal industry.  Plans include a museum with a simulated underground coal mine, collecting oral histories from retired miners and more. 

A Funeral Museum at Death’s Door

3/8/2009
New York Times - New York, NY

The Illinois Funeral Director's Association reports that it may need to close the Museum of Funeral Customs due to the lack of funding.  The museum is located in Springfield, Illinois near Abraham Lincoln's tomb. 

Philly mayor supports arts groups even amid cuts

3/8/2009
The Associated Press - Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia's mayor Michael Nutter defends the importance of the arts as key to strengthening the community, generating revenue and enhancing the quality of life. According to the Philadelphia cultural Alliance, arts and culture in the Philadelphia region emplys 40,000 people and generates $1 billion in economic activity. 

Keep Michigan's creative side alive

3/7/2009
Detroit Free Press -  Detroit, Michigan

Readers write in on the value of the arts and the lack of funding for the arts in the Governor's proposed state budget

CIB to consider cuts to arts, tourism grants

3/6/2009
Indianapolis Star - Indianapolis, Indiana
The Capital Improvement Board in Indianapolis is considering a 13 percent cut ($442,000) to grants to the Arts Council of Indianapolis, cultural tourism, Indiana Black Expo and the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership. 

Tourism in ND | KXNet.com North Dakota News

3/4/2009
Reiten Television KXMB Bismarck - Bismarck, ND

North Dakota Tourism and AAA are teaming up to sponsor the 2009 Governor's Photo Contest, seeking amateur photos of North Dakota's scenery, culture and heritage.  

Landmarks face closure

3/4/2009
Clackamas Review - Portland, Oregon

Three heritage sites in Oregon City (the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, the Museum of the Oregon Territory, and the Stevens Crawford House may be closed next month due to decreasing revenues.  The Clackamus Heritage Partners are exploring other options for new funding sources.

Audio Tour Gives Locals a Taste of History

3/4/2009
News Channel 8 - Washington, DC

Cultural Tourism DC's new audio tour includes narration by Korva Coleman of National Public Radio and other prominent Washingtonians.  The heritage trail takes betwen 60 and 90 minutes to walk and is intended for tourists as well as locals who would like to get to know their city better.

Why cultural industries are good for business

3/3/2009
TravelVideo.tv (press release)

Making the case for the importance of cultural tourism with statistics from a variety of sources.  

America's most visited tourist attractions

3/3/2009
USA Today

Forbes Traveler has released their list of the the most visited attractions in America.  Author Rob Baedeker of Forbes Traveler offers suggestions about why some attractions moved up in the rankings and others moved down

Department of Tourism Launches Community Photo Contest

3/3/2009
St. Thomas Source - St. Thomas,U.S. Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands Department of Tourism is launching a photo contest.  Virgin Islanders can submit their own photos under several categories (including "cultural and heritage" as well as "from my view."  Locals have an opportunity to win $2,000 and potentially have their photos used for marketing to visitors in 2009.

Iowa hotel tax revenue rises amid US decline

3/3/2009
DesMoinesRegister.com - Des Moines, Iowa

Hotel/motel tax revenues in Iowa are up 10% from last year, bucking the national trend of lower revenues.  Nancy Landess, manager of the Iowa Tourism Office, attributes the increase to more Iowans traveling closer to home.

Tourism industry seeks strategies to succeed

3/2/2009
News14.com - Charlotte, North Carolina

North Carolina tourism officials are working on strategies to keep people traveling to North Carolina.  A key element for these challenging times is focusing more marketing on North Carolina and the adjacent states of Virginia and South Carolina.  The upcoming 75th anniversary celebration for Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are also expected to bring more visitors to North Carolina in the next two years. 

Project links literary arts sites across the South

3/1/2009
Montgomery Advertiser - Montgomery, Alabama
A new Southern Literary Trail reaching from Natchez, Mississippi to Savannah, Georgia has created to celebrate 25 twentieth century writers from the South.  The trail links 18 southern towns in three states.  A month-long literary arts festival has been planned for March to kick off the new trail.   

Business Observer

3/1/2009
FayObserver.com - Fayetteville, North Carolina
The Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau recently hired a new tourism development manager who will be responsible for FACVB's cultural tourism initiative.  Fayetteville has a Cultural Connections task force devoted to the community’s tourism assets, and the cultural tourism initiative also helps to secure grants and work with external organizations.

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