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55 <br /> Heritage Tourism <br /> 44 <br /> Alb' AIL <br /> ■ <br /> t <br /> reedom Road <br /> African American <br /> Heritage Trail <br /> The Freedom Road: The African-American Heritage Trail <br /> The excitement of hearing old history in a new way is the key to developing <br /> heritage tourism for Orange County. Across the U.S. travel experts believe African <br /> American heritage tourism is a growing trend. Including sites that were important <br /> places for the black community and reinterpreting old sites would attract a growing <br /> national audience of both black and white travelers. <br /> "It's the second-fastest-growing market segment of tourism," said Rich Harrill, <br /> director of the University of South Carolina's Institute for Tourism Research. He <br /> listed nature-based tourism as No. 1. African American tourism has grown over the <br /> last decade . Growing numbers of black tourist alone spent $30.5 billion in 2005. <br /> Travel industry officials say Southern states need to pay attention to preserving <br /> important black landmarks. <br /> "African-Americans and other minority travelers have a genuine desire to <br /> connect with their past and are willing to spend money on leisure travel that <br /> provide them a personal and rewarding heritage experience," says Charlotte <br /> Haymore, president of the Travel Professionals of Color Association. <br /> 23 <br />