President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

Communities throughout the U.S. have developed successful programs linking the arts, humanities, history and tourism. Travel industry research confirms that cultural and heritage tourism is one of the fastest growing segments of the tourism industry. The growth and investment in cultural heritage tourism has expanded markets, audiences and consumers, as well as provided a means for sustaining cultural and heritage resources with vital revenue and awareness. The President’s Committee and its cultural partners—the NEA, NEH and IMLS—have been catalyst in the growth of cultural and heritage tourism, which over time has evolved into a broader policy and development approach known as the creative economy.