Chances are, heritage tourism is again bringing travel dollars to your part of Ohio.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines cultural heritage tourism as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.”

Places like these abound in the Buckeye State, with more than 58 historic sites and museums supported by the Columbus-based Ohio History Connection.

There’s more than just preserving the past at stake: a past study by the Travel Industry Association shows that heritage travelers stay longer at their destinations and spend more money there than other types of travelers.   This CMC forum digs into the impact of heritage tourism in Ohio.

The panelists are: 

Megan Wood, Executive Director and CEO, The Ohio History Connection 

Napoleon Bell, Co-Founder, The Heritage Tours  

The host is Tracy Townsend, News Anchor, WBNS-10TV   

The forum partner was WBNS-10TV.  

This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, August 31, 2022.