|
In the spring of 1996, Governor Glendening signed House Bill 1, which created the Maryland Heritage
Preservation and Tourism Areas Program to be overseen by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA), which was also established in the legislation. The program was designed to link the preservation of
historic, natural, and cultural features with tourism development.
Previously, historic preservation and land conservation were viewed as prescriptive measures aiding
the cultural and environmental health of Maryland with the cost regarded as high by localities that did not see the fiscal benefits or opportunities that could be achieved through large-scale preservation efforts or
regional heritage development. Linking tourism development to historic preservation, land conservation, and heritage development gives communities access to a revenue-generating industry.
In Maryland, tourism generates more than $4 billion annually and supports more than 70,000 jobs.
On the Eastern Shore, the majority of the tourists are not seeking cultural experiences. Most tourists entering the Eastern Shore are passing through to the beach resort areas. An increasing
number, however, are visiting this region and participating in many of the annual festivals, visiting local museums, and vacationing near recreation areas.
This market can be expanded. Heritage and cultural tourists are interested in engaging the
history, architecture, landscapes, and natural resources of a place. These visitors tend to stay longer than recreation tourists, spend more money than recreation tourists, tell their friends, and return.
|
