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

MARCH 16 - 31, 2009

Tourism campaign pushes ‘smart travel’

3/31/09
Cumberland Times-News - Cumberland, MD
Allegany County tourism in Maryland’s new smart travel advertising campaign will gear some ads towards younger travelers by including GPS coordinates in the ads

TPOC authenticates Buffalo as approved Heritage Destination

3/31/2009
Forimmediaterelease.net (press release) - Haleiwa, Hawaii

The Travel Professionals of Color (TPOC) National Association will authenticate Buffalo, New York as a new TPOC-approved African American Heritage Destination while meeting in May 2009. TPOC, has developed both a 3-level Heritage Tourism Specialist Certification Program for agents and a Heritage Tourism Authentication Program for convention and visitors bureaus, tour operators, tour companies, and destination management companies.

Monroe War of 1812 site now part of US parks system

3/30/2009
The Detroit News - Detroit, Michigan

River Raisin Battlefield in Monroe, Michigan became part of the National Park System on Monday, March 30th when President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act.  River Raisin was the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the War of 1812.  The goal is to complete the tourism attraction by 2012 for the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

Heritage area now a reality

3/31/2009
Times Daily - Florence, AL

President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act on Monday, March 30th which created the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area (the first National Heritage Area in Alabama).

New map highlights YNP area

3/31/2009
Cody Enterprise - Cody, WY

A new National Geographic Geotourism map has been create for the Yellowstone National Park area.  The map taps into local knowledge about the region and includes 175 notes about events and attractions in the greater Yellowstone region.

Ulster announces quadricentennial events

3/31/2009
Times Herald-Record - Middletown, New York

Ulster County, New York is celebrating the quadricentennial of the start of Henry Hudson’s voyage from Amsterdam in 1609.  Funding for this effort came from the Cultural Tourism Initiative, a project of the Arts & Business Council of New York and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Trail of Tears Expanded to Georgia as Obama Signs Bill into Law

3/30/2009
Dawson Times - Dawsonville, Georgia

About 400 miles of new trail will be added to the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail in Georgia alone when President Barack Obama signs the Trail of Tears Documentation Act into law today.

Take a trip through your own backyard

3/29/2009
Dailyrecord.com - Parsippany, New Jersey

Morris County residents are encouraged to take a trip through their own backyard to learn more about the rich history of the county.

Trail addition could have big effect on Rome museum

3/29/2009
Rome News-Tribune - Rome, Georgia
The Georgia Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association announced this week that Georgia will soon officially be a part of the National Trail of Tears Historic Trail.

A cultural upsurge

3/29/2009
Bradenton Herald – FL

Bradenton, Florida plans to move forward to implement recommendations in the “Realize Bradenton” plan.

Heritage designation holds potential for Starkville

3/28/2009
Starkville Daily News - Starkville, MS

Starkville, Mississippi is part of the proposed Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area.  Legislation providing for the establishment of the heritage area was included in the Omnibus Public Lands Act of 2009.

South Park close to being named National Heritage Area

3/28/2009
Fairplay Flume - Bailey, CO

A bill that would make South Park a National Heritage Area has passed through both houses of Congress and is close to being signed by President Obama.

Congress approves Noxubee bid to join National Heritage Area

3/28/2009
The Commercial Dispatch - Columbus, MS
Noxubee County, Mississippi and 29 other counties in northeast Mississippi are part of the proposed Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area.  The designation could bring $10 million for historic preservation as well as cultural and heritage tourism efforts.  The approved bill is being sent to the White House for the president’s signature. 

City, county leaders sound off on tourism master plan in meeting

3/28/2009
Dodge City Daily Globe - Dodge City, KS

Dodge City and Ford County commissioners voted to accept a tourism master plan prepared by Heberling Associates.

The 2nd World Heritage Travel Expo

3/27/2009
Travel Daily News International - Athens, Greece

The 2nd World Heritage Travel Expo is scheduled for November 12-14 in Macao.

Wisconsin closing visitor centers

3/27/2009
Duluth News Tribune - Duluth, MN
Under Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle’s proposed budget, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism is closing its eight visitor centers around the state.  The Wisconsin Department of Tourism is facing $1.7 million in cuts, and closing the visitor centers will save an estimated $1.2 million.

Cultural and Heritage Tourism Workshop to Stimulate Regional ...

3/27/2009
Rocklin and Roseville Today - Rocklin, CA

Placer County, California will host a Regional Cultural and Heritage Tourism Workshop on April 29 and 30, 2009.

Superior state travel center to close on Highway 53/Jobless rate ...

3/27/2009
BusinessNorth.com - Duluth, MN

Faced with the closure of state travel information centers, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism is looking to cities and counties to provide travel information.

Buffalo Tourism Strategy Targets Niche Markets

3/27/2009
WBFO - Buffalo, New York
The Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau unveiled a new five-year strategic plan that identifies African American tourism and amateur sports as target niche markets.

Design for civil rights museum will make statement

3/27/2009
Atlanta Journal Constitution – Georgia

The proposed Center for Civil and Human Rights has chosen the design proposed by The Freelon Group and HOK Atlanta for the new cultural institution in Atlanta, Georgia.  The $125 million project is currently scheduled to open in 2012.

Miami-Dade cultural affairs boss urges Congress to help the arts

3/27/2009
MiamiHerald.com – Miami, Florida

The Miami-Dade County director of cultural affairs is testifying before a House committee on the impact of the economy on the arts.  According to the National Endowment for the Arts, unemployment for artists rose at a higher rate than the overall unemployment rate in 2008.  As many as 10% of the nation’s 100,000 nonprofit arts organizations are at risk of closing this year.

Green Travel Tips Help Preserve Scenic Beauty of North Carolina

3/26/2009
Carolina Newswire (press release) – NC

North Carolina’s “Green Travel Tips” include tips to help support local artists and local agriculture, keep historic downtowns clean and obeying signs and regulations at historic sites.

DOWNTOWN PROMOTION ENDORSED

3/26/2009
Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Sarasota, FL

The Knight Foundation funded a $250,000 study, Realize Bradenton, a plan to help promote downtown as a cultural destination.  According to research by Americans for the Arts, cultural tourism has an annual economic impact of $29.5 million for Manatee County, Florida (including jobs and taxes).

Three Oregon City history museums close indefinitely

3/26/2009
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland, OR
The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, the Stevens-Crawford Heritage House and the Museum of the Oregon Territory in Oregon City closed when the nonprofit Clackamas Heritage Partners ran out of money and suspended operations indefinitely.

Town seeks to capitalize Civil War heritage

3/26/2009
Hagerstown Morning Herald - Hagerstown, MD

Williamsport, Maryland may become part of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, a designation that could provide grants, loans and tax credits.

Study identifies challenges facing Boot Hill, offers possible solutions

3/26/2009
Dodge City Daily Globe - Dodge City, KS
Finding ways to attract younger visitors to the struggling Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas, was one of the recommendations in the Dodge City and Ford County Tourism Master Plan. 

Napa Considers its Past, Present and Future

3/26/2009
Extranomical News - San Francisco, CA

The city of Napa, California is looking at ways to develop heritage tourism programs to diversify the experience beyond wine country tours such as walking tours of restored historic buildings

Dr. Bill Anderson earns tourism award

3/25/2009
Ludington Daily News - Ludington, MO

Dr. William Anderson, recently retired director of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries was honored by Travel Michigan for his efforts to promote cultural tourism.

Old Trails partnership continues planning for tourism effort

3/25/2009
The Marshall Democrat-News - Marshall, MO

The Old Trails Regional Tourism Partnership in Missouri is working to create scenic byways in the Old Trails region.  Current plans include expanding the 30-mile byway to 100 miles.

NJ's tourism groups make their case for extra funding

3/24/2009
Dailyrecord.com - Parsippany, NJ
Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) in New Jersey are requesting additional funding from state officials for their efforts to promote the cultural and historical importance of their respective areas.  According to the DMOs, every $1 spent in New Jersey by a visitor generates $12 for the local economy.

Getty Museum and Museo Archeologico Nazionale Anounce Long-term Cultural Collaboration

3/24/2009
Art Daily - Eastport, ME

The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has developed a partnership with the Museo Archeologico in Florence.

Nearly $300000 in stimulus to go for Maine arts

3/24/2009
MSN Money – USA

As part of the federal stimulus, the Maine Arts Commission will award close to $300,000 in competitive grants for projects related to the creative economy, downtown revitalization and cultural tourism.

Middle, Lower Susquehanna Sections Named DCNR's 'River of the Year'

3/23/2009
PR Newswire (press release) - New York, NY

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has designated the middle and lower portions of the Susquehanna River as the Pennsylvania River of the Year for 2009.  According to the article “this section of the river has defined settlement patterns, the development of industry, transportation, agricultural, and a way of life for generations of Pennsylvanians,"

Working to make Buffalo a tourist destination

3/22/2009
Buffalo News – Buffalo,  NY
Jennifer Parker, the newly elected chairwoman of the Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, explores ways for Buffalo to utilize Buffalo’s rich heritage to expand tourism.

Ambitious museum project seeks place to dock

3/22/2009
Auburn Citizen - Auburn, NY

Counties in New York’s Finger Lakes are being invited to put in a bid for locations for the proposed Finger Lakes Culture and Natural History Museum.  The proposed $40-45 million museum is scheduled to begin construction in 2013 and open in 2014.

Eudora Welty House to be inducted into Southern Literary Trail

3/22/2009
Jackson Clarion Ledger - Jackson, MS

The Eudora Welty House, a National Historic Landmark, was inducted into the Southern Literary Trail on Tuesday, March 24, 2009.  The Southern Literary Trail is a new tri-state heritage trail.

Association strives to build on tourism strengths

3/22/2009
Southwest Virginia Today - Richlands, VA

As an outcome of a tourism assessment completed by The Conservation Fund and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Smyth County Tourism Association has launched a new volunteer program.  81 volunteers have been recruited as Smyth County tourism ambassadors.  They will be trained to be conversant in Smyth’s historical, cultural and recreational attractions.

Virginia's Crooked Road tracks roots of America's country music

3/22/2009
Dallas Morning News - Dallas, TX
50,000 visitors a year travel the Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail.  Venues along the trail celebrate Virginia’s traditional music culture.

Massive tourism plan goes public, gives laundry list of suggestions

3/19/2009
Dodge City Daily Globe - Dodge City, KS

Dodge City and Ford County in Kansas have recently completed a 2-year planning process to develop a plan for drawing on the area's heritage assets to attract tourists. Funding for the plan and implementing is provided by the  "Why Not Dodge" sales tax fund.

Play a role in preserving Napa Valley history

3/18/2009
Napa Valley Register - Napa, CA

Leaders in Napa, California are hosting meetings to explore the potential for heritage tourism in the city and county. 

Northern Indiana Tourism sets April 30 deadline to apply for Art ...

3/17/2009
Chesterton Tribune - IN
The Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission (NITDC) is accepting applications to be part of the Art & Earth Trail.  NITDC is looking for local artisans, restaurants  serving locally grown foods, markets selling local produce and museums and inns that help tell the story of the region.  For more information about the artisan trail, go to www.ArtandEarthTrail.com.

Arts struggle to survive in recession

3/17/2009
The Brown Daily Herald - Providence, RI

Providence is developing a cultural plan called Creative Providence.  

Tourists seek out black culture along the SC coast or On the ...

3/17/2009
Pittsburgh Post Gazette - Pittsburgh, PA

Tours of the Gullah Geechee communities in South Carolina celebrate the African American heritage of the region.  A Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor running from North Carolina to Florida was designated by Congress last year.

Proposed scenic byway aims to draw tourism to Caswell County

3/17/2009
Burlington Times News - Burlington, NC

A 20-mile proposed scenic byway extension (the Leasburg Loop) in Caswell County, North Carolina is aimed at attracting visitors to scenic areas of the county.  The proposed loop would connect with the Colonial Heritage Byway.

Corzine to cut arts council budget to $14.4 million

3/17/2009
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com - Newark, NJ

Proposed budget cuts by New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine would reduce funding for the New Jersey Arts Council, the New Jersey Historical Commission, the New Jersey Cultural Trust and tourism advertising in New Jersey below the minimum amount called for in New Jersey's Hotel-Motel Occupancy Tax.  The proposed cuts could jeopardize the tax, which generated $82 million for the state last year. 

Davis County to help build arts center

3/17/2009
Deseret News - Salt Lake City, UT

County commissioners in Davis County, Utah agreed to donate $2 million towards the construction of the Davis County Cultural Arts Center.  This $14 million project, which will include a 500-seat theater as well as another smaller theater, hopes to break ground in May and open in 2011.

Rules of Attraction

3/17/2009
Good Times - Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz, California is working harder to keep visitors coming.  Santa Cruz  looks at cultural tourism (museums, galleries, art events) as one of several strategies to increase the year-round appeal of this traditionally seasonal destination. 

Workshop to focus on cultural tourism

3/17/2009
New Mexico Business Weekly - Albuquerque, NM

The New Mexico Main Street Program is hosting a 2-day Cultural and Heritage Tourism Conference in Taos, NM on April 3-4, 2009

Scenic status sought for a Pinelands trail

3/16/2009
Blinq - Philadelphia, PA

The New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Pinelands Commission are holding public hearings on a management plan for the Southern Pinelands Heritage Trail, an 13-mile long, 5-county state scenic byway.  State officials also plan to seek National Scenic Byway designation. 

Tourism gets hit hard

3/16/2009
St. Augustine Record - St. Augustine, Fl

Bed tax revenues decline in St. Augustine, Florida

"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.

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