Collaborate: “Cultural
tourism through CNT is done collaboratively,” says
Guzman. “City agencies become partners with each other
and with community-based cultural centers, redevelopment corporations,
chambers of commerce, local businesses, and neighborhood residents.” The
community arts organizations do not have
the time or budgets to market themselves as well as CNT can through
its colorful and artistic brochures, website, press
coverage, and paid advertisements. Together the partners accomplish
what
no one entity could.
Find
the Fit Between the Community and Tourism: The point
of CNT is to promote the cultural heritage of the communities
it serves. The trick is to do it without being invasive or inappropriate. “We
never bypass the local communities or try to speak for them.
They are always, from the inception of the tour on, included
in the decision-making process regarding script content, tour
routes, and brochure copy,” states Christina Villasenor,
CNT’s tour planner. At the same time, CNT stays vigilant
in providing what visitors want, making adjustments to tours
based on guest responses. By staying sensitive to people’s
cultures and dignifying their heritage,
CNT has forged a partnership based on mutual need and respect.
Make
Sites and Programs Come Alive: All of the tours have
an artistic presentation, demonstration, exhibit, or performance.
The interpretation each artist brings to his or her show enlivens
the verbal history being shared by the tour guide. It’s
not uncommon for tour guests to feel moved enough to participate
in live presentations, such as on the Roots of Chicago Blues
and Gospel tour, when guests joined performers on stage for a
call-and-response song. Smell and taste are big parts of bringing
your site to life. All of the special tours CNT produces include
lunch at a restaurant that reflects the theme or ethnicity of
the tours.
Focus
on Quality and Authenticity: “
When I interview potential guides,” says
Villasenor, “I ask them to tell me
their story about their neighborhood.
They often have little-known information or just good juicy stuff
that has been
handed down through their families that
is fascinating—and not the kind of thing you’re likely
to find at the library.” Villasenor helps each guide prepare
a
script for their tour, working together to research facts, dates,
and names.
Many gift shops along the routes offer authentic hand-crafted
items, and meals offered on the special tours always incorporate
authentic elements of the culture
or heritage being represented.
Preserve
and Protect Resources: By generating tourism income,
CNT has helped the diverse, small communities in the city become
economically viable. A stronger economy allows community leaders,
property owners, and businesspeople to maintain and protect their
historic built environment and perpetuate their
cultural resources.
Collaborate: “Cultural
tourism through CNT is done collaboratively,” says
Guzman. “City agencies become partners with each other
and with community-based cultural centers, redevelopment corporations,
chambers of commerce, local businesses, and neighborhood residents.” The
community arts organizations do not have
the time or budgets to market themselves as well as CNT can through
its colorful and artistic brochures, website, press
coverage, and paid advertisements. Together the partners accomplish
what
no one entity could.
Find
the Fit Between the Community and Tourism: The point
of CNT is to promote the cultural heritage of the communities
it serves. The trick is to do it without being invasive or inappropriate. “We
never bypass the local communities or try to speak for them.
They are always, from the inception of the tour on, included
in the decision-making process regarding script content, tour
routes, and brochure copy,” states Christina Villasenor,
CNT’s tour planner. At the same time, CNT stays vigilant
in providing what visitors want, making adjustments to tours
based on guest responses. By staying sensitive to people’s
cultures and dignifying their heritage,
CNT has forged a partnership based on mutual need and respect. 
Make
Sites and Programs Come Alive: All of the tours have
an artistic presentation, demonstration, exhibit, or performance.
The interpretation each artist brings to his or her show enlivens
the verbal history being shared by the tour guide. It’s
not uncommon for tour guests to feel moved enough to participate
in live presentations, such as on the Roots of Chicago Blues
and Gospel tour, when guests joined performers on stage for a
call-and-response song. Smell and taste are big parts of bringing
your site to life. All of the special tours CNT produces include
lunch at a restaurant that reflects the theme or ethnicity of
the tours.
Focus
on Quality and Authenticity: “
When I interview potential guides,” says
Villasenor, “I ask them to tell me
their story about their neighborhood.
They often have little-known information or just good juicy stuff
that has been
handed down through their families that
is fascinating—and not the kind of thing you’re likely
to find at the library.” Villasenor helps each guide prepare
a
script for their tour, working together to research facts, dates,
and names. 
Preserve
and Protect Resources: By generating tourism income,
CNT has helped the diverse, small communities in the city become
economically viable. A stronger economy allows community leaders,
property owners, and businesspeople to maintain and protect their
historic built environment and perpetuate their
cultural resources.
