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

September 1 - 30, 2009

Some question stimulus projects' impact on NC

9/30/2009
WRAL.com

As part of the $6 billion federal stimulus package for North Carolina, $1.2 million will be spent to renovate the Roanoke River Lighthouse which sites on the historic waterfront in Edenton, North Carolina.  Project supporters say it will boost tourism in the area.

Local Tourism Up By $25 Million

9/30/2009

WTOV9.com

Tourism is up in Ohio County, West Virginia.  A representative from the Wheeling Convention & Visitors Bureau speculated that the increase may be because people are looking for vacations closer to home, as well as the appeal of the Heritage Port.

Why would state want to open new park?

9/30/2009
Newnan Times-Herald

Georgia is opening a new state park, the Chattahoochee Bend State Park.  Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commission Chris Clark said the new park made sense both economically and as a community resource to help families reconnect with nature, citing that ecotourism and heritage tourism brings $7.6 billion a year to the state.

Santa Cruz heritage plan advances, but not before border-control flap

9/27/2009
Arizona Daily Star

The debate in the House over the designation of the Santa Cruz National Heritage Area focused on property rights and the impact of designation on the enforcement of immigration laws.

Ministry of Education - authenticity of tourism

9/26/2009
Fiji Daily Post

Fiji’s Minister of Tourism presented an address on World Heritage Day 2009 on the importance of authenticity for cultural heritage tourism.

NBC29New Orientation Center for Heritage Tourism

9/25/2009
NBC 29 News

The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has opened a new orientation center in preparation for the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Civil War

House passes SC Valley National Heritage Area

9/25/2009
Nogales International

The House of Representatives has approved the designation of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area in Arizona.  The measure will now be voted on by the Senate

Preservation plan adopted by council

9/25/2009
Van Buren Press Argus-Courier
The Van Buren City Council in Arkansas has adopted a new preservation plan.  The plan recommends developing and promoting a comprehensive heritage tourism experience to contribute to a healthier environment and enhance local economic and cultural growth.

Oregon City: Abernethy Green plan looks to visitor center

9/23/2009
OregonLive.com

Abernethy Green, the former home of the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, could be transformed into a destination visitor center, where people could do everything from buying lift tickets and hotel packages to experiencing a history presentation and hiring a guide. The center closed September 10th after the site’s managing organization, Clackamas Heritage Partners, ran out of money.

Virginia's Crooked Road: A Warm Welcome to Mountain Music

9/24/2009

Washington Post

Learn more about the visitor experience along Virginia’s Crooked Road music heritage trail.

House OKs Santa Cruz Valley heritage area

9/23/2009
Green Valley News

The House of Representatives has approved the designation of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area in Arizona.  The measure will now be voted on by the Senate.

Region's Tourism Growth Continues

9/21/2009
TriCities.com

Tourism in Southwest Virginia increased from $300 million in 2007 to $311 million in 2008.  A Virginia Tourism Corporation spokesperson attributes this success to projects such as the Mountain Regional Artisan Trail and the Crooked Road.  Crooked Road visitors spent $12.9 million in 2008, helped create 445 new jobs and generated more than $400,000 in wages and sales tax benefits.

Saving history

9/20/2009
The City Wire

An award-winning preservation plan completed for Fort Smith, Arkansas includes heritage tourism recommendations.  The plan advocates coordinating the city’s tourism program with regional sites, researching and promoting ethnic tourism, and providing brochures of the historic neighborhoods for walking and driving tours.

Tourism push paying off

9/20/2009
Buffalo News

Buffalo, New York is transitioning into to a national cultural tourism destination drawing travelers with a strong interest in art and architecture

Arts community shocked by new tax burden

9/20/2009
Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania is extending a state sales tax on cultural performances and venues to create a special fund for cultural institutions and the arts, an action which has created controversy amongst the arts community.

Local arts community welcomes incoming NEA chairman to New Orleans
9/19/09

NewOrleans.Com

Rocco Landesman, newly appointed Chairman of The National Endowment of the Arts, was welcomed in a local ceremony in Louisiana.

'Still doing well': Advertising, gas industry help tourism grow in bad economy

9/19/2009
Alexandria Town Talk

Increases in hotel occupancy in Rapides and Natchitoches Parishes is being attributed to regional advertising, staycations and oil and gas industry employees working in northern Louisiana.

Heritage Travel Launches Gozaic.com

9/17/2009
Earthtimes (press release)

Heritage Travel, Inc., a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announces the launch of www.Gozaic.com. Gozaic is a new community for people who have a passion for heritage- and culture-rich experiences. The free Gozaic membership enables people to find heritage- and culture-rich destinations, events and guided tours; build custom travel itineraries; network with like-minded travelers; share destination reviews and photos; and participate in interest-based discussions.

A national cultural destination

9/16/2009
Buffalo News

Buffalo, New York is transitioning from a Rust Belt city to a national cultural tourism destination drawing travelers with a strong interest in art and architecture.

Tribal communities get $1B in bond authority

9/15/2009
Bizjournals.com

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes $1 billion in stimulus bond authority for project in Indian Country. Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico has been allocated $22.5 million for a tourism facility, and Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico has been allocated $22.5 million to expand and refinance their tourism facility. 

Consultant: Area tourism on upswing

9/15/2009
Bizjournals.com

An arts and cultural marketing consultant working for the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau has determined that in the past three years the region has seen an increase in tourists because of several factors, including new galleries and attractions and more collaboration between the various cultural organizations.

NC's tourist trails

9/9/2009
Waynesville Smoky Mountain News
Efforts are underway to extend the North Carolina HomegrownHandmade trails into western North Carolina.  The NC HomegrownHandmade trails were created by a grant to the NC Arts Council, the NC Cooperative Extension and HandMade in America.

Preserving craft and livelihood

9/9/2009

Waynesville Smoky Mountain News

The success of the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina at attracting visitors to the region is encouraging two new counties to participate in the trail.

Coos Bay prepares for a makeover | With more tourists than ever the region is ripe for transformation

9/6/2009

The Register-Guard

Coos Bay, North Bend, Empire and Charlestown Oregon are investing over $100 million in projects to improve the appeal and tourism lure of this region.  Projects include a $10 million, 17,000 square foot waterfront center to replace the current Coos Historical and Maritime Museum and a new $1.4 million visitor’s center.

Viva Santa Fe: 400th anniversary kickoff event draws thousands

9/5/2009
New Mexican

Santa Fe, New Mexico celebrates the city’s 400th anniversary.

Downtown Huntsville receives state cultural district designation

9/5/2009
Huntsville Item

A portion of downtown in Huntsville, Texas has been designated as one of seven cultural districts statewide by the Texas Commission on the Arts.  Other Texas cultural districts include portions of Austin, Denison, Lubbock, McAllen, San Angelo and Winnsboro.

State budget cuts fall on heritage tourism jobs

9/1/2009
Asheville Citizen-Times

Two thirds of North Carolina’s heritage tourism development officer positions have been eliminated in state budget cuts.  The cuts will affect four development officers statewide plus an additional four vacant positions.

America's cultural tourism capitals Destinations  

9/1/2009

Forbes’ has ranked the top 40 major metropolitan cities to identify America’s cultural tourism capitals.  The top five rankings are New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Atlanta.

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