| The aim of this thesis is to examine the potential for small towns, especially Millbrook, Ontario, to conserve their heritage and develop their economies through heritage tourism. This thesis argues that by using a community development approach, there is the potential for some small towns to use their heritage resources as the basis for a tourism program. A framework to analyze a small town's supply of heritage resources was formulated and the concept of a town's readiness to develop heritage tourism was explored. Planning and development of heritage tourism programs can be difficult in small communities, but incorporating human resources through community development can enable a small town to organize itself to initiate a heritage tourism program. Heritage tourism can generate an interest in heritage conservation, it may increase awareness and appreciation for a community's local history, and by communicating that history to visitors, heritage tourism may increase the economic activity within the community.; Using Millbrook, Ontario as a case study, its supply of heritage resources and potential tourist demand were assessed. The concept of community readiness was examined and applied to this village to determine if it is able to accept the full responsibility for a heritage tourism program. This thesis concluded that although Millbrook has many factors necessary for a heritage tourism program and there is a demand for heritage, it is not ready to initiate a program. Recommendations are made as to how this community could overcome the barriers to implementing a heritage tourism program such as: making use of Needler Mill, capitalizing on the "arts" theme, developing closer ties to the 4th Line Theatre and linking recreational attractions with the arts and culture found in the village. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
