The Bend TAPS initiative proposes to do something very important for the City of
Who is the Cultural Tourism Industry? We are a collective of non-profits who manage cultural assets, work in creative industries, and offer cultural activities that play a significant role in the development of both our community and our economy. Our cultural heritage and arts community are the sum total of our human expressions about our lives in this place, what we hold dear, and what makes us proud. They are the things that show up in photographs and ‘check-ins’ on social media. They are the things we can’t wait to show our friends and family when they come visit.
One of the first expressions of public art in
But you all already know that. As council members, each of you supports the art and culture community in your own way. The issue here is what role do we, the arts and culture community, play in the tourism industry, and does that role deserve a seat at the table. The answer is: absolutely. Here are two important reasons why:
One: We all know that
The Des Chutes Historical Museum is currently working with members of the Model A Ford Club of America, who is bringing their regional conference to the Riverhouse this fall, on special discounts and car show opportunities to enhance their visit and create experiences that will make them leave their conference wanting to come back and happy to recommend our community as a good place to host a conference, and likewise, that we are a great Museum to patron while you are there. For our partnership with McMenamins, we pack the Father Luke room once a month for History Pub, and dozens of times I have spoken to visitors from out of town who stumbled upon us and remarked at how wonderful it was to see such presentations in a pub.
In short, Cultural Tourism makes up a large share of what you will find on the “Things To Do” pages on a wide variety of websites promoting vacations in
Two: Every day at the
According to a recent study completed by the Oregon Heritage Commission and supported by Travel
A cultural traveler is defined as “a person who travels to experience the places, people, activities and things that authentically represent the past and present, including cultural, historic and natural resources.” 83 percent of leisure travelers to
Of the cultural travelers surveyed, 39 percent said they were willing to pay MORE for lodging that reflected the cultural heritage of their destination.
But the most important message at the end of the Oregon Heritage Commission’s work was that many tourism markets in
Several communities in
Bend TAPS is an investment. A 2 percent investment that when multiplied by all our visitors becomes powerful opportunity. There are a lot of very influential odds-makers signed on in support of Bend TAPS, people who work every day in the tourism market, talk to our visitors, understand their needs, understand our community. We are all reading the signs and saying ‘invest here.’ It is an investment in ourselves, our community, right here, right now. Over 150 of those odds-makers are saying this is the right thing to do, people I am unbelievably proud to have my name next to.
In the end, every resident in
To testify at the public hearing on this proposal arrive at 7pm at