HERITAGE TOURISM

HERITAGE TOURISM
J. Glenn Eugster, Chesapeake Bay Program, EPA June 1996

HERITAGE AREA PLANNING STEPS

Assumptions:

t The process must be locally led, open to the public, objective and inclusive.
t All partners are equally important.
t The process should be consensus-based.
t Recognize and build upon existing traditions of stewardship, partnerships, consensus building and community initiative.
t Ultimately local governments make local decisions.
t Experience indicates that heritage strategies/ decisions are more effective if they reflect the following information/ insights about the area:

Steps:

1. Identification of Values (e.g. What are the natural, historic, cultural, recreational, tourism, economic, and other values which are important to the area? )
2. Identification of Goals & Objectives (e.g.. Goals for heritage preservation, conservation and tourism; What will this effort do for us? What do we want the plan to do for us? What are the goals of the plan?)

3. Identification and Analysis of Needs, Concerns and Issues (e.g.. What local needs, concerns or problems need to be resolved or addressed?)

4. Refine Goals & Objectives

5. Consider Alternatives (e.g.. How can values be protected or promoted, issues be resolved, and goals be achieved? What ideas do people have? What programs, tools, techniques, laws, and approaches are available?)

6. Select Actions (e.g.. What actions need to be taken? Who will take the action? How will the action be taken? When will the action be taken? Actions should protect/ promote values; achieve goals; resolve issues; consider appropriate alternatives; and reflect public attitudes).

7. Evaluate Progress !




HERITAGE TOURISM

WHAT IS THE CONCEPT? START WITH SOME DEFINITIONS: WHAT IS HERITAGE?

HERITAGE: EVERYONE HAS A NOTION----A UNIFYING THEME !

HERITAGE CAN BE SIMPLY EXPLAINED AS SOMETHING TRANSMITTED OR ACQUIRED FROM A PREDECESSOR. IT IS IN A BROAD SENSE OUR COLLECTIVE FEATURES, TRADITIONS, AND CULTURE SIGNIFYING/ ILLUSTRATING THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT AND RESOURCE USE.

SEEMS TO BE BASED ON TWO RELATED ELEMENTS CONCERNING "PLACES" AND "PEOPLE".

DEFINITIONS OF HERITAGE TOURISM:

--KATHLEEN BROWN, OF LORD CONSULTING, FL., CALLS IT; "VISITS BY PERSONS FROM OUTSIDE THE HOST COMMUNITY MOTIVATED WHOLLY OR IN PART BY INTEREST IN THE HISTORICAL OR LIFESTYLE/ HERITAGE OFFERINGS OF A COMMUNITY, REGION, GROUP, OR INSTITUTION".

--JEFF SOULE OF THE CENTER FOR RURAL PENNSYLVANIA DESCRIBES IT AS; "RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL TO NATURAL AND CULTURAL AREAS WHICH CONSERVES THE ENVIRONMENT AND IMPROVES THE WELFARE OF LOCAL PEOPLE".

--RICHARD RODDEEWIGG, A PRIVATE CONSULTANT AND DESIGNER OF A NUMBER OF HERITAGE PROJECTS, SAYS THAT IT IS; "AN ENCOUNTER WITH OUR TRADITIONS INCLUDING NOT ONLY HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE, BUT URBAN AND RURAL LANDSCAPES; THE ARTS; SPORTS; COOKING AND CUISINE; TRADITIONAL LEISURE ACTIVITIES OF ALL SORTS; LANGUAGES AND SOCIAL CUSTOMS; AND EVEN INSTITUTIONS".

PRINCIPLES OF HERITAGE TOURISM:

* INTEREST IN LIFESTYLE: HERITAGE TOURISM EMPHASIZES THE LINKAGES AND INTERACTIONS BETWEEN PHYSICAL FEATURES (IE. MOUNTAINS, VALLEYS, RIVERS, BIOLOGICAL FEATURES (VEGETATION, ANIMAL LIFE, ETC), AND CULTURAL FEATURES (IE. TOWNS, ROADS, RAILROADS, BUILDINGS, PEOPLE, ETC). UNDERSTANDING

* OFFERINGS OF A COMMUNITY: HERITAGE TOURISM RECOGNIZES COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND THE PAST AND USES THESE THINGS TO SHAPE HOW A COMMUNITY COMMUNICATES ITS IDENTITY. TYPICALLY THEMES, "PLACE-ROOTED" IMAGES, ARE USED TO SPEAK TO PEOPLE AND COMMUNICATE THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE SENSE OF THE LOCALITY OR REGION AS A SPECIAL PLACE.

* RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL: HERITAGE TOURISM OFTEN PROVIDES FOR A CULTURAL EXCHANGE WHICH GOES BEYOND PAST LOCAL-VISITOR INTERACTIONS. THERE IS A NEED FOR PROJECTS AND STRATEGIES WHICH CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES AND VISITORS TO HAVE A HIGH QUALITY EXPERIENCE. THESE EFFORTS EMPHASIZE WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT HERITAGE TOURISM DOESN'T CREATE AN INFRINGEMENT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS; DAMAGE THE COUNTRYSIDE; ANNOY LOCAL COMMUNITIES; OR CREATE PROBLEMS SUCH AS TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

* CONSERVES ENVIRONMENT & IMPROVES LOCAL WELFARE: HERITAGE TOURISM RECOGNIZES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ECOLOGICAL, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC VALUES AND STRIVES TO ACHIEVE ALL THREE OBJECTIVES SIMULTANEOUSLY. IT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO PROTECT AND PROSPER.

* ENCOUNTER WITH BROAD & DIVERSE TRADITIONS: STATEWIDE TOURISM SURVEYS INDICATE THAT VISITORS ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING AUTHENTIC TRADITIONS OF LAND AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT AND USE DIFFERENT FROM THEIR OWN. HERITAGE TOURISM VIEWS ENTIRE LANDSCAPES/ REGIONS AS THE ATTRACTIONS, NOT JUST SPECIFIC SITES, BUILDINGS, PARKS OR PROPERTIES. IT PLACES VALUE ON GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AS "LIVING LANDSCAPES" WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK, AND VISIT.

* EMPHASIZES REGIONAL/ COMMUNITY PLACE-BASED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED COOPERATIVE EFFORTS: ALTHOUGH CERTAIN STATES, SUCH AS MA, NY, PA, AND SC, HAVE DEVELOPED STATEWIDE APPROACHES TO HERITAGE TOURISM, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS HAVE COME FROM COMMUNITY/ REGIONAL EFFORTS WITH STATE, FEDERAL AND PRIVATE ASSISTANCE. IT IS AN APPROACH WHICH EMBODIES THE NOTION OF "HELPING PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES".

HERITAGE AREAS: THESE EFFORTS ARE TYPICALLY REFERRED TO AS "HERITAGE AREAS"----WHICH ARE REGIONALLY IDENTIFIABLE AND SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPES THAT ARE THE FOCUS OF COOPERATIVE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DECISION-MAKING EFFORTS TO RECOGNIZE, ORGANIZE, AND COMMUNICATE A COMMUNITY'S NATURAL, CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC ATTRIBUTES TO PROTECT IMPORTANT VALUES, STIMULATE THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE".