Heritage Tourism From a web site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

http://www.nationaltrust.org/heritage_tourism/getting_started.html

Getting Started in Cultural Heritage Tourism

"As an original participant of the Heritage Tourism Initiative, I continue to marvel at the impact this program has had on the travel industry. Communities that felt they could not be a part of the travel industry because they didn't have traditional "tourist" attractions began to realize that they could draw upon their history and culture to bring visitors, and their economic impact, into their community."

- Rene Campbell, Executive Director, Columbus Visitors Center, Columbus, Indiana

Whether you are beginning a new program or enhancing an existing one, the Heritage Tourism Program knows what it takes to make a program succeed. The National Trust pioneered the process for heritage tourism programs in 1990 with a three-year initiative working with 16 pilot areas in four states-Indiana, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. This intensive effort resulted in the time-tested five guiding principles and four basic steps for getting started.

5 Principles for Cultural Heritage Tourism

While cultural heritage tourism programs are all unique, successful and sustainable programs embody these five principles.

Collaborate

Cultural heritage tourism brings together many different perspectives-preservation, tourism, economic development, the arts, museums, main street, humanities, elected officials, public land managers and more. By working together, you can accomplish much more than by working alone.

Find the fit between the community and tourism

A good cultural heritage tourism program balances the needs of visitors and residents alike. Every community has a different capacity for tourism, and it is important to involve the community in shaping your tourism efforts.

Make sites and programs come alive

Find creative ways to engage visitors and provide them with a memorable experience. Provide interactive experiences that engage as many of the visitor's five senses as possible.

Focus on authenticity and quality

Today's travelers are more sophisticated and well traveled than the previous generation, and they expect both quality and authenticity in their heritage travel experiences.

Preserve and protect resources

Be sure that the historic, cultural and natural resources which make up your cultural heritage tourism program are adequately protected for future generations to enjoy as well. If these irreplaceable resources are lost, you can never get them back.

4 Steps for Cultural Heritage Tourism

Cultural heritage tourism programs develop in stages, and these four steps should be repeated with each new phase.

Assess the potential

Evaluate what your community has to offer in attractions, visitor services, organizational capabilities, ability to protect resources and marketing.

Plan and organize

Make good use of human and financial resources. They are keys that open the doors to sustainable heritage tourism. Set priorities and measurable goals.

Prepare for visitors; protect and manage resources

Look to the future as well as the present. Be sure that the choices you make now improve your community for the long term.

Market for success

Develop a multi-year, many tiered marketing plan that targets your market. Look for partners in local, regional, state or national groups.