Heritage Tourism Initiative Shows Results
Heritage Tourism Initiative Shows Results
The 2002 PAWV annual conference, Heritage Tourism for West Virginia, showcased a multi-year effort to promote and develop a heritage tourism program for West Virginia. The PAWV Heritage Tourism Initiative, funded in part by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the State of West Virginia, has been working for over three years on comprehensive heritage tourism development.
Conference
Heritage Tourism for West Virginia, the PAWV Annual Conference held Sept 5, 6, & 7, 2002 in Morgantown, attracted about 75 attendees to share and learn about developing Heritage Tourism in their own communities.
A wealth of talent contributed talks or led workshops, including keynote speaker Tom Moriarity from Economic Research Associates, Jerry Kappel from American Association of Museums, Scott Gerloff of Potomac Heritage Partnership, and Becky Cain of Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation to name just a few. Friday afternoon’s session at the historic Hotel Morgan showcased the proposed Heritage Tourism program for West Virginia, as well as a number of existing heritage region efforts; while Saturday featured an abundance of useful and inspiring “how to do it” sessions on preserving for tourism, interpretation, and the business and economic impact of heritage tourism.
The Conference was co-sponsored by Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, WV State Historic Preservation Office, WV Main Street Program and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Pilot Region
The “Frontiers to Mountaineers” region has been a two-year pilot project to showcase how regional heritage tourism development can increase tourism and benefit preservation. Consisting of Monongalia, Preston, Marion, Harrison, and Lewis Counties, the region has been working for over two years to cooperatively market their heritage tourism destinations, and to help develop new ones.
Over 38,750 of the “Mountaineer Heritage” eight-page full color brochures have been distributed, along with billboard, print, and travel show cooperative marketing. Development efforts have included a preservation plan to assess needs, a cultural assessment to identify artists and performers who can help bring heritage to life, and a study of visitor profiles and impact.
Most recently an interpretive signage program choose fifteen sites from over 35 applicants to receive a Frontiers to Mountaineers interpretive sign for their site. Quiet Dell School and Museum (a crafts cooperative) was honored November 22 in a public ceremony unveiling the first sign.
Statewide Program
Building on the lessons learned in the pilot region, the initiative is working to establish a long-term heritage tourism development program that will work statewide. A Steering Committee has been working diligently for several years, consisting of members from state agencies such as the WV Development Office, Main Street, Division of Tourism, and Culture and History; as well as non-profit groups including PAWV and existing heritage regions.
The initial proposal by the Steering Committee was for a staffed state program to be housed in the Development Office along with the Main Street Program. Given the current state budget constraints, new staff positions are not likely in the coming year, but the Development Office, PAWV, and the other Steering Committee members remain committed to the program.
With a small amount of grant money, consultant staff, and the cooperative efforts of the Steering Committee participants, the initiative will continue to move forward to establish and further define and develop the program to support and help develop Heritage Tourism in our state.
