OUR IMPACT
Economic Impact of Tourism l Pennsylvania Heritage Areas Measure Economic Impact l
NPS Measures Economic Impact l Resources
Economic Impact of Tourism
The Lackawanna Valley is fortunate to have authentic historic assets, abundant cultural and ethnic venues and traditions, and beautiful recreational and natural resources. All of these attributes together create the place called the Lackawanna Heritage Valley.
The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority is an economic and community development organization. In promoting the region’s assets, it heightens the awareness of how special this place is, and encourages people from everywhere to visit and enjoy this unique place on the map. The spin-offs from the efforts of LHVA and its partners are difficult to quantify. But there is no question that heritage tourism brings significant amounts of money to Northeastern Pennsylvania. This translates into a higher quality of life for area citizens, stronger communities, effective regional partnerships, and more local jobs.
Heritage tourism is the largest industry in the world and the second largest industry in Pennsylvania. As a place that drew immigrants like a magnet, the Lackawanna Valley now can draw residents and visitors who are fascinated by the fortitude and accomplishments of our forbears, and who are interested and curious about their personal lineage.
Pennsylvania Heritage Areas Measure Economic Impact
An important element of the work of heritage areas is to draw visitors to heritage sites, facilities, and other attractions. An estimated 17.3 million visitors visited the entire network of Pennsylvania Heritage Areas in 2008. The impact of this tourism activity is significant to the local economies of each region.
In 2008, eight heritage areas participated in a study to assess the characteristics of the visitors to their sites and estimate the impact of these visitors on the local economies. HeritagePA, a partnership formed by the twelve Pennsylvania Heritage Areas, analyzed the results of these surveys to assess the economic impact of the entire Pennsylvania heritage area network.
Based on those surveys, it was determined that:
- Visitors to the entire HeritagePA network generated $1.6 billion in direct and indirect sales last year.
- These sales were enough to support more than 31,500 jobs, which paid nearly $600 million in wages and salaries.
- The total direct and indirect value-added to the community in 2008 from heritage tourism is estimated to be $934 million. This came in the form of personal income to workers, profits and rents to businesses, and indirect business taxes paid to government.
A report detailing these findings can be found here.
National Park Service Measures Economic Impact
In 2008, LHVA joined a number of National Heritage Areas (NHA) from other parts of the country to conduct visitor surveys that gauged the economic impact of tourism in this region. The 2008 Economic Impact of Heritage Tourism Spending surveys are a key component of a broader study that seeks to identify the far-reaching effects that heritage-based tourism and development have on local economies.
Information was gathered through the months of September and October at the following local sites: Steamtown National Historic Site, the Electric City Trolley Museum, the Lackawanna County Coal Mine Tour, the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, the Everhart Museum, and the Lackawanna County Visitors’ Center. When they are compiled, the survey results will provide valuable information to guide marketing and promotional efforts, both for the heritage areas and for other regional cultural tourism efforts. The survey information will help to identify popular programs, sites, and attractions, as well as successful partnerships.
Similar surveys were conducted in 2003 and 2005. LHVA is one of the few heritage areas to have participated in all three surveys. A report highlighting the findings of the survey is expected in 2009.
The survey was initiated by the National Park Service, the Alliance of National Heritage Areas, and Michigan State University (MSU). MSU used a modified Money Generation Model (MGM2) to analyze data collected through visitor questionnaires. The final report for each area will analyze visitor demographics, visitation profiles, and the level of awareness among residents and visitors of the heritage area designation. A summary report will highlight trends across the heritage areas, project conclusions, and recommendations.
The seven participating areas were: Lackawanna Heritage Valley, MotorCities NHA (Detroit, Michigan), Essex NHA (Massachusetts), Silos and Smokestacks NHA (Iowa), Cane River NHA (Louisiana), Augusta Canal NHA (Georgia), and Ohio and Erie National Heritage Canalway (Ohio).
To view the procedure guide and previous years’ information, visit the MSU website. To read a report summarizing results from the 2003 survey, click on the report, “Economic Impacts of National Heritage Area Visitor Spending; Summary Results from Seven National Heritage Area Visitor Surveys.”
Resources
Partners in Tourism
Maintained by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, this site is a resource for those who are developing, marketing or managing cultural heritage tourism attractions or programs.
Main website: http://www.culturalheritagetourism.org/
Economic impact studies for fifteen states: www.culturalheritagetourism.org/resources/
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
PA DCNR commissioned a report by D. K. Shifflet & Associates of McLean, VA, to gather research information applicable to developing and refining marketing strategies to enhance the economic impact of heritage tourism, and to gain information on traveler’s perceptions and interest in Pennsylvania's Heritage Regions.
Full report: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/recstudy/hptourismstudy0699.aspx
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Studies on the economic impact of historic preservation: www.achp.gov/economics.html
National Heritage Areas Economic Impact Study Results
The economic impact of National Heritage Areas can be found on these websites:
National Park Service - National Heritage Areas Resources
Alliance of National Heritage Areas - Economic Development
Michigan State University - Economic Impacts of Recreation and Tourism
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