The loss of revenue from tourism and culture has had a major impact in the areas hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which devastated many Gulf Coast historic sites and brought New Orleans' tourist-driven economy to its knees. Many of the region's irreplaceable cultural and historic resources are gone forever. However, in the midst of this devastation there is a vision of hope and opportunity for the revitalization of this area.

Cultural, heritage, and travel industry leaders from across the nation attending the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Summit in early October 2005 lent their support to keynote speaker Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Mitchell Landrieu, who said to the more than 400 delegates that through its rebuilding process, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are capable of becoming a center of creativity and a cultural incubator, creating jobs and businesses. He added, "This is a real human tragedy that has the power to transform a people. This time of sorrow must be transformed into a time of hope."

In response the delegates passed a resolution that expands on this vision and says, in part: "The Gulf region's culture and heritage are inherent to its vitality and future. The restoration of this region's economic growth and development depends on the business of culture, tourism and heritage." The resolution supports a collaboration between two regional organizations, the Southeast Tourism Policy Council and the Southern Arts Federation, to help in efforts "to rebuild, restore and invest in re-establishing New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region as a world-class travel destination and center of culture and heritage."

The hurricanes and Landrieu's remarks provided a striking backdrop to the summit and an example of how culture, tourism and heritage play a dynamic role in the life of communities. Over the summit's two and a half days, delegates spent time devising state action steps to fulfill the summit's Position Paper on Cultural and Heritage Tourism in the United States, which provides a framework for a national strategy for this industry to grow over the next five years. For New Orleans, Biloxi and other communities, this position paper and the steps taken by the delegates at the summit provide a blueprint for partnerships, investment and momentum to creating sustainable economic development that benefits local community residents, cultural and heritage institutions, the travel and tourism industry and traveling consumers.

At the federal level, the Preserve America initiative will provide grant monies to communities to help them develop heritage tourism projects.

The U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Summit was presented by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, in partnership with American Express, Cultural & Heritage Tourism Alliance, Partners in Tourism and Shop America Alliance.