Cheryl Hargrove is President of Hargrove International, Inc. With an emphasis on cultural heritage tourism, Cheryl has worked with a diverse collection of clients over the last three decades. Cheryl utilizes her international network and broad industry experience to offer clients added value and access. A native Georgian, Cheryl has consulted on cultural heritage tourism […]
What is Heritage Tourism?
“Traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present. It includes visitation to cultural, historic, and natural resources.” (Source: National Trust for Historic Preservation)
Cultural Heritage Tourism Book Promo
Cultural Heritage Tourism: Five Steps for Success and Sustainability provides detailed instruction through a proven five-step process to help planners, managers and community leaders attract visitors and their spending to your cultural heritage site, attraction, event or destination. Learn More
What is the difference between Cultural Tourism and Heritage Tourism?
The United National World Tourism Organization defines Cultural Tourism as “movements of persons for essentially cultural motivations such as study tours, performing arts and cultural tours, travel to festivals and other cultural events, visits to sites and monuments, travel to study nature, folklore or art, and pilgrimages.” Heritage Tourism, as defined by the National Trust […]
Marketing vs. Management – A Lesson from COVID-19 and the Faroe Islands
The current COVID-19 crisis has elevated the question about how organizations should be funded to market destinations, particularly in the U.S. Typically, destination marketing organizations (DMOs, sometimes called Convention & Visitors Bureaus) are funded through an accommodations or occupancy tax – an amount added to each visitor’s stay at a recognized lodging property (hotel, motel, […]
30 and Still Relevant
In 1989 I had the great privilege of working with the National Trust for Historic Preservation on a new initiative to study the relationship between preservation and promotion. That initiative led to a heritage tourism movement that has lasted three decades, in part to five principles guiding asset-based economic development. These five principles continue to […]
Guest Lecture at University of Mary Washington
What a pleasure and honor to be selected by students of the Historic Preservation Department for their annual guest lecture. A great chance to meet talented young preservationists and share information on cultural heritage tourism last Thursday, April 19. Dinner with faculty and students afterwards was delightful! (Photo left to right: Amy Bonnevier, Carolyn Currin, […]
Bellingham and Whatcom County (Washington) Cultural Heritage Tourism Plan
This destination in northwest Washington state boasts an abundance of natural assets and recreational activities. With attractive and vibrant downtowns as well as a variety of historic sites, local leaders wanted a tool to bring the communities together and build a sustainable, year-round tourism plan focusing specifically on their cultural heritage. The Lummi and Nooksack […]
Cultural Heritage Tourism: Five Steps for Success and Sustainability
Every place has a story to tell, often found in historic sites or cultural traditions of the people who settled or currently live in a community, city, region or state. When these stories and places are shared with visitors, this activity becomes what is known as cultural heritage tourism. Success and sustainability in this growing […]