Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 19, 1993 TAG: 9310200286
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MARION LENGTH: Medium
The first of six workshops scheduled across the state was held Wednesday at Hungry Mother State Park.
Bud Jeffries represented the outdoor drama, ``The Long Way Home,'' at the meeting.
The play was one example of the idea behind Heritage Tourism Weeks. It has become a summer tourism attraction for the New River Valley and it deals with historic events that took place in the region.
The state's Department of Historic Resources and Division of Tourism each had one-week observances stressing their activities. They decided to come together in 1994 for a joint push for their activities.
``It's sort of a joining of two state agencies, each of which has its own expertise and its own constituency,'' said Margaret Peters, representing the historic resources department.
``Tourism's role in this is mainly marketing and promotion,'' added Martha Steger, public relations director with the state Department of Economic Development. ``Here in Virginia we see it as an opportunity to do something which could expand Virginia's tourism market.''
The Virginia Department of Transportation is also involved in a project to help tourism in Virginia. It is preparing a map of scenic roads for visitors.
Steger said the transportation department wants to hear from communities on routes that could be included. She said people are encouraged to take information on potential scenic routes to their district transportation offices at Bristol or Salem. The map will not be ready until July, too late for the 1994 Heritage Tourism Weeks, but it will be a part of Virginia's tourism promotion.
It should also build tourism corridors between communities, Steger said. ``People don't visit a single site. It's visiting an area.''
The workshops will continue through Oct. 27. The fourth one will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday in Franklin County at the Booker T. Washington Birthplace.
by CNB