Last month, the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) and Smithsonian Magazine published a new study that has supported what I have been promoting in this column for the last four years - heritage tourism is big bucks!!

In the past year, 81% of U.S. adults - 118 million - who traveled consider themselves historic/cultural travelers. These travelers included historical or cultural activities on almost 217 million person-trips last year, up 13 percent from 192 million in 1996. (A person-trip is one person on one trip traveling 50 miles or more from home, one way).

According to William S. Norman, president & CEO of TIA, "The sheer volume of travelers interested in arts and history, as well as their spending habits, their travel patterns and demographics, leaves no doubt that history and culture continue to be a significant and growing part of the U.S. travel experience. This is a market to which the travel industry needs to pay close attention in the future."

As in previous studies, these travelers spend more money on historic/cultural trips compared to the average U.S. trip (average $623 vs. $457, excluding cost of transportation), making historic/cultural travelers a lucrative market for destinations and attractions. In fact, for 30 percent of historic/cultural travelers, their destination choice was influenced by a specific historic or cultural event or activity. Compared to the average trip in the U.S., historic/cultural trips are more likely to be seven nights or longer and include air travel, a rental car, and a hotel stay. Historic/cultural travelers are also more likely to extend their stay to experience history and culture at their destination. In fact, four in ten added extra time to their trip specifically because of a historic/cultural activity, the report adds. Most agree that trips where they can learn something new are more memorable to them. New York State ranks third of the top ten states visited by these kind of travelers,

Can Troy tap into this? Of course we can, and it has been happening regardless of what is going on at city hall. For example, this year's Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway Tiffany Tour, which had doubled in size from a capacity of 60 to 120 people to satisfy the demand, now has added a third group, and already has 138 signups. The tour doesn't even start until Sept. 20. Where are people coming from? Well, how about a bus load from Dutchess County; four people from Cooperstown; three from NYC, and even our northerly neighbor Queensbury. Some of them are staying overnight locally and that includes a stay at my buddy Tina Urzan's Olde Judge Mansion, the B&B over on 6th Avenue. Tina has told me that besides her regular fully booked operation she is now getting requests from tourists who want to stay there.

Tom Carroll, the underpaid director of the Gateway, who also oversees the operation of the Visitor Center (that gets 10,000 hits per quarter on their website, www.troyvisitorcenter.org), and who must work about 70 hours a week to keep up with demand, has spent the last couple of months playing international host. On June 5th, Tom entertained 14 people from Henry Burden's hometown of Dunblane, Scotland (population 7,836) who came to tour Burden's former iron complex. In fact, two members of the surviving Burden family from Manhattan and Cape Cod joined them! During the same week, three people from Edinburgh, Scotland made a visit and included the person who is the head of the preservation program of the Institution of Civil Engineering of the United Kingdom!

The American Canadian Caribbean Line, a fleet of three special cruise ships that can navigate shallow coastal waters and under the low bridges of the Erie Canal, has been stopping at Troy for the last four years and passengers have been getting a history tour of Troy from the staff at the Visitor Center. The cruise line has now decided to make Troy the actual loading site for their passengers, instead of Warren, Rhode Island.

Heritage tourism in Troy? You bet there is and one thing is certain. We need to fully fund our visitors' center to handle this increase in interest of our historic city.

Finally, this year's election for a mayor and new common council is perhaps one of the most important in Troy's history. Whether we gain a group that is dedicated to capitalize on our heritage, or continue to keep missing the boat, is up to you, dear Trojans. Sadly, we will not have Mickey Mahar leading the charge. May he rest in peace.