CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM IN THE NEWS.... CURRENT NEWS
FEBRUARY 2009
DC History: Get an Earful
2/28/2009
Washington Post
Cultural Tourism DC just launched a audio tour, Civil War to Civil Rights, that is available as a free download. The new do-it-yourself-tour is intended to be experienced using an MP3 player. This is the first of a series of "audio journeys" tied to Cultural Tourism DC's Heritage Trail interpretive signs on the city's sidewalks.
Can Louisiana Hayride return as music village?
2/28/2009
KATC - Lafayette, Louisiana
Bossier City, Louisiana is working to use the history of the "Louisiana Hayride" into a new tourism attraction. The Louisiana Hayride was a famous radio show that helped launch the careers of musicians such as Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, Sr.
Master plan for Prater's Mill, area to be unveiled Saturday
2/28/2009
The Daily Citizen - Dalton, Georgia
A recently released Interpretive Master Plan has identified strong heritage tourism opportunities for Murray County, Whitfield County and Prater's Mill in Georgia.
Honolulu parcel in running for federal heritage designation
2/25/2009
Honolulu Advertiser - Honolulu, Hawaii
Legislation has been introduced to establish a national heritage area in downtown Honolulu. The proposed Hawai'i Cultural Capital District would include downtown, Palama and Nu'uanu.
US Conference of Mayors President Miami Mayor Manny Diaz Blasts ...
2/25/2009
PR Newswire (press release) - New York, New York
The U.S. Conference of Mayors defends the economic impact of the arts on the national economy in response to attacks by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act opposing the $50 million dedicated to the National Endowment for the Arts.
Brooklyn Cultural Circuit website lets out secret of great places ...
2/25/2009
PitchEngine (Press Release) - Riverton, Wyoming
The Brooklyn Cultural Circuit (BCC), an alliance of arts and cultural groups in Brookyln, New York, has launched a new website at www.EnjoyBrooklyn.com to promote cultural and scenic sites in Brooklyn that only an insider knows. BCC was formed in 2004 and currently includes nine small to mid-sized arts and cultural organizations. The new collaborative website is a shared marketing effort that the member organizations see as being essential in the current difficult economy.
Museum of Art cutting its staff
2/25/2009
Philadelphia Inquirer - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is cutting costs by eliminating staff positions, deferring exhibitions, reducing programs, trimming salaries and considering an increase in admission fees. The cuts are being made in response to a $90 million downturn in the museum's endowment and reduced financial support from the city of Philadelphia.
State budget cuts could hit local historic sites
2/25/2009
Pottstown Mercury - Pottstown, Pennsylvania
The Daniel Boone Homestead and the Schuylkill River Heritage Area are two of the state funded historic and recreational sites that may be affected by Pennsylvania Governor Rendell's proposed 20 percent state budget cut.
Suffolk hotel room tax plan would aid parks, museum
2/25/2009
Newsday - Long Island, New York
Officials in Suffolk County, New York are considering doubling the county's hotel room tax as an effort to generate $4.96 million. It is hoped that these funds will help the Vanderbilt Museum, parks and other cultural groups in the county weather the current economic downturn.
Cultural Groups Partner to Promote Tourism
2/25/2009
WFMZ-TV Online - Allentown, Pennsylvania
Six Allentown, Pennsylvania cultural institutions are working together to jointly promote a special discount card. The card is valid through 2009 and offers discounts at all six sites. The promotion is part of an effort to collaborate and make limited marketing dollars go further in a tough economy.
Travel industry scrambles to cope as Americans spend less
2/23/09
USA Today
A USA Today/Gallup poll found that 58% of people who usually take an annual vacation will either spend less on travel or not go on vacation this year because of the downturn in the U.S. economy
Heritage Area idea moves forward
2/23/2009
Gallup Independent - Gallup, New Mexico
The Tucson based Center for Desert Archeology has completed a draft feasibility study for the proposed Little Colorado River Valley National Heritage Area. The proposed National Heritage Area covers 27,000 square miles in northern Arizona and northwest New Mexico. The Center for Desert Archeology is working to build public support for this designation.
Port Gibson, Rolling Fork win grants
2/23/2009
Vicksburg Post - Vicksburg, Mississippi
Port Gibson and Rolling Fork, Mississippi were 2 of 5 communities chosen to receive a $10,000 grant from the Mississippi Development Authority )(MDA) to preserve and protect their historic assets. Both communities were selected as part of the MDA's Certified Cultural Corners Program that was launchd in 2008.
Pa. budget woes threaten cultural and historical sites
2/22/2009
Philadelphia Inquirer - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Governor Rendell's proposed state budget includes budget reductions that could force the closure of as many as two dozen state-run historic sites and impact funding for state-run heritage areas, county historical societies, and assistance for small and medium size museum institutions. 150-160 museums and county historical societies in Pennsylvania received funding from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission last year.
Revisiting tourism challenges
2/22/2009
Cape Cod Times - Hyannis, Massachusetts
Massachusetts state Representative Sarah Peake (D-Provincetown), newly appointed vice chairwoman of the Massachusetts Legislature's Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, argues that a down economy is not the time to cut tourism marketing funds.
Longview awaits cultural district pilot announcement
2/21/2009
News-Journal.com - Longview, Texas
Longview, Texas is among 15 Texas cities and towns bidding to be part of a pilot Cultural District Designation program with the Texas Commission of the Arts. Texas lawmakers created the program in 2005, though program funding has not yet been made available. In this pilot phase, 5 communities will be selected to receive $5,000 in tourism development funds to prepare their cultural district application.
Ciao, Leonardo! $9 million jolt to local economy as more than ...
2/21/2009
OBSNews.com - Sacramento, California
The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California was the only United States stop for the blockbuster exhibit "Leonardo: 500 years into the future." The San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that this 4-month exhibit brought 170,000 people downtown and pumped nearly $9 million into San Jose's economy through visitor spending at restaurants, hotels and retail outlets.
Heritage tourism is key
2/21/2009
Natchez Democrat - Natchez, Mississippi
Vern Smith, a freelance journalist and native of Natchez, Mississippi, encouraged Natchez to focus on heritage tourism in his keynote address to the Natchez Business and Civic League.
Bill will help Hawaii harness its history to help our economy
2/20/2009
Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Honolulu, Hawaii
Representative Corinne Ching encourages Hawaii's tourism leaders to tap into heritage tourism to help Hawaii's economy. A bill to create a National Heritage Area for the Capitol District from Kalihi to Kakaako would create opportunities for grant funding and increase tourism.
Heritage, authenticity are keys to project
2/20/2009
Shreveport Times - Shreveport, Louisiana
Heritage and authenticity are cited as keys to the success of the proposed Louisiana Hayride Music Village in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Local officials say closing Jerome State Park would hurt economically
2/20/2009
Camp Verde Bugle - Camp Verde, Arizona
Jerome, Arizona officials express concern about the proposed closure of Jerome State Historic Park. Arizona's State Parks have compiled a list of state parks targeted for closure.
Proposed Mich. cuts 'another blow' to arts groups
2/20/2009
Chicago Tribune
Michigan's proposed state budget includes the elimination of grants for arts and cultural projects. Those grants totaled $7.98 million in this year's budget.
Tourism dollars still flow
2/19/09
Suffolk Times - Mattituck, New York
Noted economist Pearl Kramer cites tourism as a bright spot on the horizon for Long Island's North Fork regional economy.
Walking Through DC's History: The African American Experience
2/19/09
Georgetown University The Hoya - Washington, DC
Cultural Tourism D.C.'s Neighborhood Heritage Trails includes an African American Heritage Trail database with 200 sites. Cultural tourists can build their own trails from this database
Tuskegee hosting second HisTourism conference
2/19/2009
Tuskegee News - Tuskegee, Alabama
The second annual HisTourism Conference will be held March 12-13, 2009 in Tuskegee, Alabama. This conference focuses on how to build heritage tourism in rural Alabama.
Officials Say Heritage Area Is Paying Off
2/19/2009
Washington Post
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania has helped to increase visitation at heritage sites within the region and boost the local economy.
TPOC forecasts heritage tourism will help stimulate economy
2/19/2009
Forimmediaterelease.net (press release) - Haleiwa, Hawaii
The Travel Professionals of Color Association (TPOC) will be releasing a African American Heritage Tourism Report at their annual conference in May 2009. The study found that even though many Americans are cutting back on leisure travel, many are still taking specialized vacations including destinations offering exciting heritage sites and trails.
Downtown district gains ‘arts’ designation by state
2/14/09
2TheAdvocate - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge recently designated a downtown Arts and Entertainment District. The Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism has now designated 10 cultural districts statewide. This designation provides tax breaks for renovating historic buildings and means that original art sold in the district is exempt from sales tax.
Greenway should stay
2/10/2009
Hudson Valley Press - Newburgh, New York
Assemblyman Frank Skartados comments on a proposal by the Governor of New York to eliminate the state agency that oversees the Hudson River Valley Greenway and transfer the programs in that agency to New York's Department of State.
Two area groups not funded in governor’s proposed budget
2/9/2009
Citizens Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell's proposed 2009-10 budget includes cuts that would eliminate the Lackawanna Heritage Valley and the Endless Mountain Heritage Region.
State artifacts put in jeopardy
2/9/2009
Sioux Falls Argus Leader - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Budget cuts threaten to close the South Dakota Archeological Research Center in Rapid City.
New State Budget Threatens Local Art Scene
2/9/2009
KOLO - Reno, Nevada
Proposed budget cuts could eliminate nearly 50% of state funding for art services and programs in Nevada.
Casper takes another look at designating historic district
2/8/2009
The Casper Star Tribune - Casper, Wyoming
The Casper Historic Preservation Commission and the Downtown Development Authority are looking at creating a federally designated historic district in Casper, Wyoming. Heritage tourism is cited as one potential benefit.
State capital celebration destination
2/8/2009
Kankakee Daily Journal - Kankakee, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois gears up to celebrate President Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday
Cultural institutions face cuts, which may hurt tourism
2/3/09
SmartBrief - Washington, DC
As institutions cut their budgets, travel industry insiders are pondering what the developments will do to the tourism industry and, specifically, to travel agents.
Tourism boost
2/3/09
Tallahassee Democrat - Tallahassee, Florida
An extra penny of tax on hotel visits here in the capital city would be a welcome source of revenue — an additional $800,000 a year is the estimated amount — to help stimulate our local economy. Several cities seek stimulus money for museums
2/3/09
Las Vegas Sun - Las Vegas, Nevada
Mayors argue museums and other cultural attractions are necessary to increase tourism that feeds local economies.
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