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‘Cultural tourism’ taking off

The arts have been noted as a positive draw for travelers for many years. But now the whole idea of marketing "cultural tourism" is beginning to take off.

Stephen Dunphy / Seattle Times staff columnist

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2001856036_dunphy12.html

A panel discussion yesterday in Bellevue focused on the concept, stressing that the tourism is mainly supported by the continuing growth in the numbers of artists, performances, visual-arts events, arts organizations, arts tours and festivals.

Several areas are well ahead of the Seattle-King County area in promoting the concept of cultural tourism, said Tracey Wickersham, of the Seattle King County Convention and Visitors Bureau. But the potential is there. Wickersham said an annual survey of U.S. tourists by the tourism industry showed 118 million people included "cultural experience" as part of a trip. About 61 million tourists traveled to their destination specifically for a cultural event.

Cultural tourism is defined rather broadly — traveling to Seattle to visit the Museum of Flight, for example, would be considered in the field, according to panelists at the meeting.

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