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New Craft & Tourism Effort to Draw Craft-Focused Visitors to NC

Contact:
For more information contact Vince Chelena, N.C. Association of Convention & Visitors  Bureaus,
at (704) 333-8445 or vince@themanagementoffice.com.

Raleigh, N.C. – North Carolina craft and tourism are joining hands in 2005 – and it’s a marriage made in heaven.

North Carolina is one of the nation’s top three craft destinations, with more than 6,100 craft artisans generating some $538 million in revenue each year.  Building on that, an unprecedented, year-long marketing effort kicks off this month to connect Southeastern travelers with craft events across North Carolina, and to promote the state as a cultural tourism destination.  Behind it are the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and the N.C. Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (NCACVB), with underwriting from the N.C. Arts Council.

It’s part of the 2004-05 Celebration of North Carolina Craft, as proclaimed by North Carolina’s Governor Michael F. Easley.  The Celebration showcases North Carolina’s craft artists and products in new ways, including featuring craft on the state highway map.  The Celebration of North Carolina Craft is sponsored by the N.C. Craft Coalition, comprising 19 craft organizations from the mountains to the coast working together to promote North Carolina as a cultural tourism destination.   The N.C. Arts Council supports the Craft Coalition.

North Carolina is one of the Top 10 states for cultural and heritage tourism, according to the Travel Industry Association of America (TIAA) and Smithsonian magazine.  And cultural tourism is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry, up 13 percent between 1996 and 2002, according to the TIAA.  Cultural travelers spend more money - $631 vs. $457, and stay longer - one to three more nights, than other travelers. They are hungry to have authentic experiences at the places they visit. On average, they schedule five cultural activities per trip.

The new partnership is also designed to strengthen connections between local tourism agencies and local arts councils and area craft guilds.  Special focus will be put on building local economies, especially in rural areas.   Activities planned for 2005 include:

• Advertising promoting North Carolina craft in high-profile newspapers and magazines in the Southeast
• Online and newsletter communications with travelers, including the 300,000 members of AAA Carolinas and 350 AAA offices in the Southeast and Midwest
• Public service announcements produced by Time Warner Cable to air on North Carolina cable channels
• Local arts and tourism organizations working together to create craft travel tourism packages and itineraries
• A spring 2005 media event for travel writers in New York, highlighting craft
• Linking craft and tourism Web sites, including links to www.DiscoverCraftNC.org, which directs visitors to craft-based organizations (including museums, galleries, schools and art centers). 

 “This is a win-win partnership,” said Kelly Miller, President of NCAVB and the head of Asheville’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.  “People who are making vacation and getaway travel plans want to know about craft galleries, studios, exhibits, festivals and other craft events in North Carolina.  Combining our efforts will let us provide potential tourists with the kind of travel information they want, and will increase travel and tourism activity across North Carolina.” 

The NCACVB comprises North Carolina’s 36 destination marketing organizations, non-profits that are dedicated to promoting travel, tourism and conventions in North Carolina.  Their combined budget exceeds $35 million, and is largely focused on attracting vacationers and other leisure travelers to North Carolina.   

“ North Carolina craft is an important cornerstone of our state’s travel and tourism industry, so this partnership will build our craft community, our tourism industry and our state’s economy,” said Mary B. Regan, Executive Director of the N.C. Arts Council.

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Note to Editor: Electronic images available include more than 100 images of North Carolina craft, artisans and their workshops.

For more information on the Celebration of North Carolina Craft, visit www.discovercraftnc.org

For more information on the N.C. Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus, visit http://visit.nc.org/directory.html

For more information on the N.C. Arts Council, visit www.ncarts.org

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