The Benefits of Cultural Heritage Tourism
The purpose of Cultural Heritage Development, as well as Heritage Tourism, is to utilize the state’s historical, cultural, agricultural, and natural resources to create economic opportunities for businesses and communities while preserving and conserving heritage resources.
Cultural heritage includes resources from the built environment (buildings, archaeological remains), the natural environment (rural landscapes, agricultural heritage), and artifacts (books, objects, and pictures). These resources are unique to West Virginia, and their preservation and conservation not only give a sense of place and history for current generations but also for future ones. Many people visit West Virginia’s special places, see our resources, and learn about them. Heritage tourism is an important and viable element of our state economy. Read more about the benefits of heritage tourism and related initiatives at the links.
For more information, visit: West Virginia Cultural Heritage Development Program Background and Accomplishments
Cultural heritage includes resources from the built environment (buildings, archaeological remains), the natural environment (rural landscapes, agricultural heritage), and artifacts (books, objects, and pictures). These resources are unique to West Virginia, and their preservation and conservation not only give a sense of place and history for current generations but also for future ones. Many people visit West Virginia’s special places, see our resources, and learn about them. Heritage tourism is an important and viable element of our state economy. Read more about the benefits of heritage tourism and related initiatives at the links.
For more information, visit: West Virginia Cultural Heritage Development Program Background and Accomplishments
Cultural Heritage Development IS Economic Development!
According to the 2003 The Historic/Cultural Traveler study by the Travel Industry Association and Smithsonian Magazine, 81% (118 million) U.S. adults who traveled in 2002 were considered cultural heritage travelers. These travelers included historical or cultural activities on almost 217 million person-trips last year, up 13 percent from 192 million in 1996. Visitors to historic sites and cultural attractions stay longer and spend more money than other kinds of tourists. Cultural and heritage visitors spend, on average, $623 per trip compared to $457 for all U.S. travelers excluding the cost of transportation. (Source: 2003 The Historic/Cultural Traveler, TIA).
Tourism is big business. In 2005, travel and tourism contributed $650 billion to the U.S. economy. Travel and tourism is the third largest retail industry in the U.S. behind automotive dealers and food stores. Travel and tourism directly employs more than 8 million people and creates a payroll income of $171.4 billion and tax revenues of $104.9 billion for federal, state and local governments. (Source: Travel and Tourism Works for America, September 2006; Travel Industry Association).
In addition to creating new jobs, new business and higher property values, well-managed tourism improves the quality of life and builds community pride. Perhaps the biggest benefits of cultural heritage tourism, though, are diversification of local economies and preservation of a community’s unique character.
Tourism is big business. In 2005, travel and tourism contributed $650 billion to the U.S. economy. Travel and tourism is the third largest retail industry in the U.S. behind automotive dealers and food stores. Travel and tourism directly employs more than 8 million people and creates a payroll income of $171.4 billion and tax revenues of $104.9 billion for federal, state and local governments. (Source: Travel and Tourism Works for America, September 2006; Travel Industry Association).
In addition to creating new jobs, new business and higher property values, well-managed tourism improves the quality of life and builds community pride. Perhaps the biggest benefits of cultural heritage tourism, though, are diversification of local economies and preservation of a community’s unique character.
Heritage Development Articles
- A Profitable Past: The Economic Impact of Heritage Preservation in Arkansas (2007)
- Measuring the Economic Impact of Federal Historic Properties (2005)
- Heritage Tourism: Establishing a State-Funded Cultural Heritage Tourism Program in West Virginia (2004)
- The Historic/Cultural Travel Market Overview (2003)
- Utilizing Heritage Resources For Economic Development (2002)
- The West Virginia Crafts Study: The Impact of Crafts on the State Economy (2002)
Preserve America Thematic Trails
With a goal of increasing heritage tourism in our state, Preservation Alliance of West Virginia and the State Historic Preservation Office are working with West Virginia Tourism to create thematic trails.
The WV Historic Theatre Trail includes twenty-two sites from around the state. They range from the unique concrete monolith known as the Marlinton Opera House to the sublime Keith-Albee I Huntington, one of the largest and most ornate theatres ever built in this country. The twenty-seven New Deal/CCC sites include many state park, state forest and National Forest sites along with cozy homes in communities like Arthurdale and monolithic structures such as the Tygart Dam. There is something for everyone and some site near everyone in the mountain state.
The West Virginia Historic Thematic Trails were developed by the State Historic Preservation Office and Preservation Alliance of West Virginia in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was financed with a Preserve America grant. The program receives Federal funds from the National Park Service. All historic sites included in this trail are listed in The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). www.wvculture.org/shpo/shpoindex.aspx
The WV Historic Theatre Trail includes twenty-two sites from around the state. They range from the unique concrete monolith known as the Marlinton Opera House to the sublime Keith-Albee I Huntington, one of the largest and most ornate theatres ever built in this country. The twenty-seven New Deal/CCC sites include many state park, state forest and National Forest sites along with cozy homes in communities like Arthurdale and monolithic structures such as the Tygart Dam. There is something for everyone and some site near everyone in the mountain state.
The West Virginia Historic Thematic Trails were developed by the State Historic Preservation Office and Preservation Alliance of West Virginia in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was financed with a Preserve America grant. The program receives Federal funds from the National Park Service. All historic sites included in this trail are listed in The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). www.wvculture.org/shpo/shpoindex.aspx