Alternative A (No Action) will make no structural changes from the existing situation, and any changes in visitation will be due to the continuation of current trends. As a result, only modest visitation increases of less than five percent should be expected, for both attractions and events.

Alternative B (Places) will emphasize individual sites, and will therefore increase visitation to attractions by a greater factor than visitation to events.

Alternative C (Experiences) will stress themes, and will likely result in a greater increase in visitation to events than in visitation to attractions.

Alternative D (Layers) will place equal weight on both types of visitation and will have the greatest level of public investment and marketing efforts. As a result, it will produce strong increases for both attractions and events.

Economic Impact

Market Analysis

1. Assessment of Visitor Services and Infrastructure

2. Regional Socioeconomic Trends

3. Regional Heritage Tourism Market

4. General Findings and Issues for Further Discussion

 

 

 

 

 

County Information regarding tourism

1. Philadelphia county is visited more than any other county in the SRVNHA more than 60%

2. Between the five counties associated with the SRVNHA there are between 5.9 million and 6.8 million heritage visits each year.

3. Nearly 10% of Pennsylvania's population relies on the Schuylkill River for all or part of their water.

4. The Philadelphia Water Department estimates that if land in Berks County is developed over the next 25 years at the density which Montgomery County developed of the past 25 years, the Schuylkill River could be lost as a viable source of drinking water.

How does the money get there?

The heritage area’s annual budget for projects is approximately 1 million dollars, which 350 thousand comes form the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Heritage Parks program and 650 thousand from public and institutional matching funds.

Living with the River

Why have a Heritage Area?

What does a Heritage Area include?

Who manages a Heritage Area?

SRVNHA

Who wins or loses?

The management does such a great job explaining the Heritage Area’s business/economic plan that everyone seems to win. 

· Tourists win because the Web site is very user friendly, and anyone who visits will experience the people, places, and things that helped to shape our nation.

· Investors and business owners win because they  reap the benefits of their investment which is usually higher tourism rates. 

· Residents win because their town and the natural environment that they live in receive extra funding from state and federal agencies.