Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development
New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music
May 2009
 Generates
more than $16.8
billion in annual revenue
 Produces more than $1.38
billion in state and local taxes
 Employs more than 190,500
North Carolinians
The mission of the Tourism
Development Program is to
support sustainable efforts to
protect, preserve and
promote the state’s natural,
historic and cultural
resources.
Development Officers serve as liaisons with local communities to develop
tourism across the state.
Travelers are looking for the
real experiences.
Sincerity is crucial.
With social networks, blogs ,
texting and other means of
new “word-of-mouth”
communication tools, a bad
experience leads to a nearinstant death
Highway Corridors
•Work with NCDOT program to promote
Scenic Byways
•Work with NCDOT on promoting historic
markers across the state (History on a Stick)
•Highways 17, 158, 95, 85, 70, 26, 77, 40, 64,
etc.
African-American History
•Underground Railroad
•Rosenwald Schools
•Civil Rights
•Historically Black Colleges &
Universities
Native American History
•Cherokee Trail of Tears
•Meaning behind Native American county
names (Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan,
Catawba, Cherokee, Alleghany)
Pre-Colonial/Colonial
•First settlers (Lost Colony)
•Colonial capitals/governments
Civil War and Other Military
•Revolutionary War
•World War II
•Military Branches (Army, Marines, Air
Force, Coast Guard)
Motorsports/Sports
•NASCAR (Statewide
Moonshine Trail)
•Dirt Tracks
•Drag Strips
Waterways
•Paddle Trails
•Fishing
•Boating
•Lighthouses
Industrial
•Textile Industry (Norma Rae)
•Boat-building
•Bio-technology (Research
Triangle Park)
Aviation
Buckhorn Baptist Church, Hertford County
Religion
•Statewide Historic
Church Trail
•Wright Brothers
•Blimps
•Military Aviation
Agriculture/Winemaking/Distilled Spirits
•Sir Walter Raleigh
•Growth of vineyards and wineries
Arts & Culture
•Work with NC Cultural
Resources
•Local music
•Local artisans
Ghost Lore
•Ghost stories and
events
Ghost Walk in New Bern
Food
•Seafood
•BBQ
Environmental
•Eateries/Restaurants
•New heritage environmentally
sustainable initiatives
•Culinary excursions along
corridors
•Melding the past with the future
North Carolina’s Creative Economy is responsible for providing
159,000 jobs statewide and $3.9 billion in payroll, according to the
NC Dept. of Cultural Resources
The economic impact from the arts and cultural industry is
estimated to be $743 million, according to the NC Dept. of Cultural
Resources
Rural sightseeing
Beach
State/National Park
Urban sightseeing
Historic sites/churches
Museums
Wildlife viewing
Fishing
Old homes/mansions
Special events/festivals
Hiking/backpacking
Gardens
Nature travel/ecotouring
14.0%
13.0%
8.7%
6.9%
6.5%
5.0%
5.0%
4.7%
3.9%
3.9%
3.5%
3.2%
2.7%
Total:
81%
Fine dining
Museums
Gardens
Art galleries
Wineries
13.0%
5.0%
3.2%
2.5%
2.5%
Total:
26.5%

Mount Airy Museum of Regional History (March-April)

Warren County Memorial Library in Warrenton (MayJune)

The Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City (JuneJuly)

The Arts Council of Wayne County in Goldsboro
(August-September)

Mars Hill College Museum of Rural Life (SeptemberNovember)

The Don Gibson Theater in Shelby (November-January)
Appalachian
Bluegrass
Blues
Cajun
Country
Gospel
Polka
Sacred
Sixties
Spiritual
LP Covers
Harmonicas
Rub Board
Hymnals
Spoons
Accordion
Panel replicas of art, photos, sheet music
Assorted ephemera: pamphlets, posters
Assorted flutes, rattles, and drums
Assorted string instruments: mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer,
guitar, banjo
CROSS PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Heritage and Cultural Tourism Themes
Blue Ridge Parkway 75th
New Bern 300th
Civil War 150th
Involve local communities by tapping into local product
•Local websites
•Local media
•Local visitors bureaus
LOCAL COUNTY CONTACTS
Mt. Airy: Jessica Icenhour
Greater Mt. Airy Chamber of Commerce
Elizabeth City: Charlotte Underwood
Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Warrenton:Toni Haavisto
Warren County Chamber of Commerce
Goldsboro: Betsy Roseman
Goldsboro-Wayne County Tourism
Mars Hill: Lila Nikila
Madison County Tourism Development Officer
Shelby: Jackie Sibley
Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce
Utilize the resources at the NC Division of
Tourism, Film & Sports Development
•9 Welcome Centers
•Partnerships and collaborations along
highway corridors with themed
motorcoach itineraries
•Themed itineraries for international
travelers
•Cooperative marketing and public
relations campaigns with NC Division of
Tourism
•VisitNC.com downloadable brochures,
itineraries and journeys
nccommerce.com/tourism