Cultural tourism is an important way to celebrate, preserve and promote a state's unique heritage, increase opportunities for artists, promote public arts participation and boost economic development. State arts agencies contribute to cultural tourism by leading statewide planning, offering training and information resources, providing funding for local initiatives and conducting research on the impact of cultural tourism. Below are examples of state arts agency efforts, but readers are also encouraged to visit culturalheritagetourism.org and view the latest cultural tourism newsletter for comprehensive information on many additional cultural tourism initiatives across the nation.
Data
- Cultural Visitor Profile – Statistics about cultural travelers and how this unique demographic compares to all U.S. travelers.
- NASAA NOTES – Did You Know, March 2009 – An examination of current tourism trends in relationship to cultural tourism.
- National Research on Cultural and Heritage Travelers - October 2009 study details the popularity of cultural and heritage travel in the United States.
State Arts Agency Programs and Initiatives
Resource Guides
- Cultural Tourism 101 (Massachusetts)
- Cultural Heritage Toolkit (Vermont)
- Cultural Tourism Toolkit (Texas)
- Cultural Tourism Resources (Oregon)
Trails and Tours
- Art Museums Trail (Maine)
- Fiber Arts Trails (New Mexico)
- Quilt Trails (Kentucky)
- Northwest Heritage Tours (Washington)
- Cultural Heritage Guidebook (South Dakota)
- Virginia Blue Ridge Heritage Trail (North Carolina, Virginia)
- Cherokee Heritage Trails (North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia)
- Connecticut Art Trail (Connecticut)
- Scenic Byways – NASAA Spotlight (Minnesota)
- Artful Trips (North Carolina)
- Iowa Place Based Foods (Iowa)
- Art in State Buildings Trail (Vermont)
Marketing Campaigns
- Maine Performs (Maine)
- Vacationers and Visitors (South Carolina)
- Arts in Ohio
- Culturally Florida
- Discover Jersey Arts
- My Louisiana
Special Initiatives
- Homegrown Handmade (North Carolina)
Grant Programs
- Arts Link to Tourism and the Economy (Arizona)
- Culture and Tourism Partnership Grants (Connecticut)
- Cultural Tourism Grant (Oregon)
- Tourism and the Arts Grant (Virginia)
State-Level Research
- The Artful Traveler: Cultural Tourism in North Carolina (North Carolina)
- Exploring Authentic Oregon: The Importance of Cultural Tourism (Oregon)
- Tourism Documents and Reports (Louisiana)
Resources
- Cultural Heritage Tourism website
- Cultural Tourism News
- Cultural Heritage Tourism Survival Toolkit
- President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities
- Position Paper on Cultural & Heritage Tourism in the United States
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
- Heritage Travel
- U.S. Travel Association
If you have questions about these materials, or would like to contribute information or resources about state arts agency cultural tourism initiatives, please contact Kelly Barsdate.