Overview & FAQ
Heritage Tourism Defined
According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, heritage tourism is traveling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.
Background
Heritage travelers are explorers of Colorado’s authentic cultural and historic landscapes. They are discoverers of tangible histories who engage historically significant places and people with diverse traditions. These travelers represent one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry. With a ten year growth rate approximately twice that of national travel overall, heritage tourism is a promising economic driver. Communities looking to celebrate their cultural life, honor historical sites and legacies, and preserve those natural, cultural, and historical qualities that contribute to their uniqueness and character can benefit from heritage tourism.
Colorado’s Heritage Tourism Program is the result of a partnership between the Colorado Historical Society and the Colorado Tourism Office. The program was launched with funding from a State Historical Fund grant. At the start of 2005, the Colorado Tourism Office commissioned a comprehensive market study of heritage travel in Colorado, began including heritage-based materials in the state’s marketing efforts, and undertook a statewide heritage tourism strategic planning process followed by a competitive process to select four pilot projects. Now, a competitive process will again select up to three heritage tourism projects with anticipated awards of $35,000 to $50,000 possible. This grant seeks applicants who can advance heritage tourism in Colorado through regionally based projects that build on the strategies set forth in A Strategic Plan for Colorado Heritage Tourism Enhancement available at www.Colorado.com/industry. Applicants are required to provide a minimum cash match of 25% of the total project budget.