26 C O N T E X T 1 0 1 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 highly diverse community composed of small numbers from different countries and of highly differentiated strata. If they are not accepted, they can hang on in desperation, isolated and without the numbers to develop a culture. The attitude of the host community can help adaptation and change with positive results for both parties. Bilingualism in schools, for instance, should be celebrated rather than suppressed. In summary, Judy Ling Wong indicated that we all love what we enjoy, we protect what we love and that if we are not in touch we are not in love. The challenge is to meet together, take the best from each other and leave out the worst.To achieve positive change, we have to enter the situation and listen intently. This will tell us what to do. A good heart will overcome mistakes. As EM Foster put it: ‘Only connect…’ Graham Arnold Heritage tourism and the regional economy Felicity Goodey, chair of Central Salford Friday’s keynote speech was given by Felicity Goodey, chair of Central Salford, a large urban regeneration company. She is also the chair of the North West Tourism Forum. Goodey began by referring to a phrase from her days in journalism: perception is reality. Although this was often thought to be the case, it was not actually true. In particular, perceptions about heritage and/or culture were often misplaced. The words were misunderstood and abused. Heritage and cultures are often described as being expensive, elitist and having little popularity. Responsibility for heritage and culture was often considered to be best ‘buried in the least-resourced department’. This perception is unfounded, because heritage attractions and sites contribute billions of pounds to the economy, and heritage is ‘what makes us tick’. But the economic importance of heritage is wider than simply providing visitor attractions. It is important to regeneration too. Goodey believed that regeneration which ignored heritage destroyed communities. It merely created dormitories: places that were doomed to become the slums of tomorrow. Tourism is one of the fastest growing engines in the north west, worth £10 billion. Research by Culture Northwest, a thinking, networking and advocacy organisation, was cited. It works strategically through collaboration to champion the role of culture across the region. Its remit is to build and drive the regional cultural strategy, working with tourism, sport and physical activity, the creative industries, arts, heritage, museums, libraries and archives. Culture Northwest found that heritage sites were the first ports of call for international visitors. There are two historic properties for every square kilometre of the region.That meant there were over 27,000 heritage reasons to explore the north west. Heritage sites and attractions are not only popular with international tourists. Culture Northwest have found that 67 per cent of residents in the region consider themselves to be heritage tourists and 48 per cent of black and ethnic minority residents from the region visited a heritage attraction during 2006. Felicity Goodey underlined the importance of human interest stories (in a further reference to her days as a journalist). She said that whereas tourism had once been something that was looked down on, it was now considered to be an educational experience. The Sefton Park Palm House in Liverpool was cited as an example. What was important about this place was not so much the building or the plants, but the story of trade: that is, the human stories. Getting the interpretation and focus right is important because heritage tourists stay longer and spend more than their leisure counterparts. We could argue that the refurbishment of St George’s Hall in Liverpool (where the delegates were sitting listening) was much more than simply an extravagant and over-indulgent heritage project. Fifteen years ago, the building was scheduled for demolition by the city council of the day. The restoration of St George’s Hall and other important buildings in Liverpool helped the city to win the European Capital of Culture title, and this in turn has encouraged investment and jobs. Returning to the theme of human stories, Goodey said that heritage was the story of those who made it. This philosophy underpinned the work that was going on in Salford. Engels and Marx were inspired by the conditions under which working people lived in that city in the 19th century. IHBC Annual School 2007 IHBC Annual School 2007 IHBC Annual School 2007 An alleyway in Salford which has undergone a community clean-up by people living in the area
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