Placer County will host a Regional Cultural and Heritage Tourism Workshop on April 29 and 30. The workshop will focus on connecting heritage, arts and culture, agriculture, recreation and tourism to harness the potential for collaborative projects that span communities throughout the region.

The National Trust’s definition of cultural heritage tourism is “traveling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present. It includes historic, cultural and natural resources.”

According to tourism planning professionals, linking tourism with heritage and culture can do more for local economies than promoting them separately. This helps to protect natural and cultural treasures and improves the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

The program commences on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 29, with a “tourism assets tour,” which will provide a guided overview of Placer County’s tourism amenities — natural, scenic, cultural and historic attractions. This “snapshot” will be used to frame tourism programs and projects during the April 30 workshop.

A welcome reception on April 29 at the Flower Farm Inn in Loomis will feature a Placer County showcase of local food and wine. A keynote address by CalFest’s Ruth Schnabel will focus on the wedding industry as a framework for tourism in local communities.

The April 30 workhop will begin with a docent-led tour of Feats of Clay XXII at the historic Gladding, McBean factory. The workshop will take place at Lincoln City Hall, a short walk from Gladding, McBean, and will include a downtown Lincoln dine-around lunch.

Panel discussions will focus on resources such as preserve America, scenic byways and national heritage areas, as well as a case study of the town of Murphys, Calif.

Breakout sessions during the workshop are designed to encourage attendees from across the region to work collaboratively to develop programs and projects including maps, driving trails and corridors, downtown revitalization, developing themes, shaping the story, creating a media plan and attracting investment in tourism.

A Placer County Tourism Asset survey and a Cultural & Heritage Tourism Readiness Survey will be conducted prior to the workshop and the results distributed to workshop attendees.

Those involved in the tourism industry, including destination management organizations and chambers of commerce, lodging, wineries and restaurants, tour operators and guides, city and county government, arts organizations, historical societies and museums and others interested in making their community a tourism destination are encouraged to attend.

The workshop is presented by a planning committee including California Travel & Tourism Commission, County of Placer, Placer County Visitors Bureau, Placer Valley Tourism, North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, PlacerArts, City of Lincoln, City of Auburn, Auburn Chamber of Commerce, Colfax Area Chamber of Commerce and Foresthill Chamber of Commerce

Registration is $35 and includes the tourism assets tour, welcome reception and lunch on April 30. For more information and link to online registration, visit PlacerTourism.com or PlacerArts.org, or call (530) 885-5670.