RESEARCH

Tourism is big business.  In 2009, travel and tourism directly contributed $704.4 billion to the U.S. economy.  Travel and tourism is one of America’s largest employers, directly employing more than 7.4 million people and creating a payroll income of $186.3 billion, and $113 billion in tax revenues for federal, state and local governments.  (Source: U.S. Travel Association, 2010).

In addition to creating new jobs, new business and higher property values, well-managed tourism improves the quality of life and builds community pride.  According to a 2009 national research study on U.S. Cultural and Heritage Travel by Mandela Research, 78% of all U.S. leisure travelers participate in cultural and/or heritage activities while traveling translating to 118.3 million adults each year.  Cultural and heritage visitors spend, on average, $994 per trip compared to $611 for all U.S. travelers.  Perhaps the biggest benefits of cultural heritage tourism, though, are diversification of local economies and preservation of a community’s unique character. (Source: Cultural & Heritage Traveler Study, Mandela Research, LLC)

This research section includes information about a number of cultural heritage tourism research projects in different parts of the U.S.  Click on the links in the left-hand margin to find out more about the research that others have done to demonstrate the economic impact of cultural heritage tourism in their area, or research to find out more about cultural heritage travelers.

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