Economic Impact of Heritage Tourism

The Alliance of National Heritage Areas (ANHA) released its report, Economic Impact of Heritage Tourism 2005 (PDF) that examines the financial contribution of the nation’s five largest heritage areas.

The alliance examined five National Heritage Areas–Augusta Canal in Georgia, Delaware and Lehigh and Lackawanna in Pennsylvania, Essex in Massachusetts, and National Coal in West Virginia–which attracted more than 5.5 million tourists in 2005. This study focused only on the economic benefits associated with heritage tourism–spending on lodging, food, souvenirs and other retail purchases; local travel, and other goods and services. Based on their research, the alliance estimates that the 27 heritage areas generate:

• Over 152,000 jobs that paid $3.2 billion in wages and salaries, and
• Another $5 billion in tourism-related activity.

The Alliance of National Heritage Areas is a nonprofit membership organization representing the 36 heritage areas. The alliance seeks to:
• Conserve natural resources, landscapes, and historical sites and structures.
• Strengthen community identity and economic vitality.
• Educate residents and visitors about its region’s history.
• Attract heritage tourism.