By the mid '90's, many tourism offices across the country were beginning to create designated Cultural Tourism positions, state and local arts agencies were beginning to understand the benefits of Cultural Tourism as a way to build audiences, and everyone involved was eager to get together to exchange ideas about this newly evolving field.
A group of practitioners in the field of cultural tourism met to discuss their similar goals, ideas, and challenges. That forum, titled "The First Gathering of Movers, Shakers and Practitioners in Cultural Tourism," was held in San Diego in October of 1998.
Out of this first meeting in San Diego was formed the Cultural Tourism Alliance, an association of working professionals promoting the arts, culture, history and heritage of their towns, cities, regions or states. In April 2002, a small group of veteran cultural and heritage tourism professionals met in Pittsburgh to plan the fall 2002 conference. This steering committee determined that an official expansion of the scope of the Alliance was necessary to recognize the role of heritage tourism. The subject was discussed at the 2002 conference and it was decided that these related fields should join forces as the renamed Cultural & Heritage Tourism Alliance (CHTA).
Since the first San Diego gathering, CHTA conferences have been held in Portland, St. Louis, San Antonio, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta and Seattle. Palm Beach County, Florida will host the 2008 meeting November 5-8.
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Though not limited to this list and in no particular order, the following represents those with whom cultural and heritage tourism professionals work most closely:
- Non-profit organizations that attract visitors
- Customers who purchase the products we market
- Tour operators/travel agents
- Marketing entities
- Foundations and funding sources
- Media
- Heritage areas
- Corporate sponsors
- Universities
- Government (state, local, etc)
- National organizations
- Community organizations
- Hospitality agents
- Members and staff of our organizations
- Boards of directors
- Transportation specialists
- Vendors (agencies, designers, etc)
- For-Profit cultural organizations/businesses
- Individual artists
- Meeting/association planners
- Festivals/events/attractions
- Marketing directors
- Federal agencies
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