Columns:: Governor taps two faculty for new commission to promote historical tourism‘The Birth of African-American Culture’

since 12/15/98

Columns::February 11, 2002

Black History Month observance commemorates ‘The Birth of African-American Culture’
Poet Nikki Giovanni will lecture, give reading
Mending (historic) fences
UGA expands its academic program at Gwinnett University Center
Willie Cole visits campus as part of artist series
Risky business
Peach State Poll finds most Georgians believe immigrants are not taking their jobs away
China’s Cultural Revolution put professor on ‘radical’ career path
A world of difference
Administrative changes
Newsmakers
The British were here

Campus News

Governor taps two faculty for new commission to promote historical tourism

By Ann Allen
allen@cviog.uga.edu

The Vinson Institute of Government is taking a lead role in helping create a strategy for promoting historical tourism as a rural economic development tool in Georgia. Vinson Institute faculty members Ed Jackson and Mary Stakes were recently sworn in as members of the Governor’s Commission on Georgia History and Historical Tourism. Gov. Roy Barnes named Jackson to chair the 40-member group. The institute has been designated as the official staff for the new commission.
During 2002, the commission will develop a comprehensive inventory of current historical resources and programs in Georgia, identify historic sites and history-related attractions, review success stories and best practices in promoting historical tourism as a tool of economic development, review Georgia’s historical marker program, examine the status of Georgia history education in public schools, and study organizational and funding issues related to history and historical tourism. The group will hold four regional public hearings to allow citizens and organizations to voice their concerns and recommendations.
“The governor’s commission is undertaking the most ambitious study of the status of Georgia history and historical tourism in the history of our state,” Jackson says. Represented on the commission are the Secretary of State, the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Labor, the Civil War Commission, the Georgia Historical Society, and a number of other state agencies and organizations.
“One of our principal goals will be to show how Georgia counties--particularly rural counties with few resources--can utilize history to promote tourism,” Jackson says. “Studies show that historical tourists are more educated, stay longer, and spend more money than regular tourists. With a comprehensive strategy of developing county-by-county inventories of historical resources and attractions, and relying on such modern tools as the Internet, Global Positioning Systems, and CDs for distribution at interstate welcome centers, we hope to develop a strategy for stimulating historical tourism for both Georgia citizens and those passing through our state.”
The commission will present its final report and recommendations for legislation and funding to Gov. Barnes and the General Assembly in December 2002.

UGA Today supports QuickTime, Flash, RealPlayer and Acrobat Reader (PDF files).
Download information about these plug-ins.
Affiliate icons for UGA Today

COLUMNS ] UGA Today ] Subscribe ] News Bureau ]
Office of Public Affairs Directory ] Photo Services ]
Broadcast, Video & Photography ] Master Calendar]
Columns ] Georgia Magazine ]Visitors Center ]
UGA Home ] Alumni ] Admissions ] UGA Directories ]
Sports ] Weather ] Search UGA sites ]

Columns is produced by the UGA News Service, a unit of UGA Public Affairs.
Beth Roberts: Columns editor, Juliett Dinkins: Columns managing editor,
Janet Beckley: Columns art director. Peter Frey: Columns photo editor

Questions or comments should be directed to columns@uga.edu