Dr. Tadayuki Hara, Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow at Dick Pope Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies gave a presentation on Tourism Satellite Accounting at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center in Pawtucket, RI, on October 11, 2018.

Dr. Hara poses for a photo with Sowams Heritage Area Project Coordinator David Weed and Blackstone Valley Tourism Council President Robert Billinton following the session. Dr. Weed attended the presentation in order to learn how best to develop tourism in the Sowams Heritage Area in the coming years.

Mr. Billington introduces Dr. Hara of the University of Central Florida who is one of the foremost experts on the policy and funding side of economic development of tourism and culture

Dr. Hara points to figures that show that tourism accounts for about 17 percent of all dollars spent in the U.S. economy when all aspects of tourism dollars are accounted for.

Donna Kaehler, Coordinator, Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful, listens as Dr. Hara makes a point during a guided workshop that followed, led by Robert Leaver of New Commons.

Sowams Heritage Area brochures are on display at the Visitor Center as Mr. Billington takes Dr. Hara on a tour of some exhibits at the Visitor Center and sites in the surrounding community.