Those of us fortunate to live here know Elizabeth City is a great place to live, work and play. We are conveniently located within an hour’s drive to the attractions of Norfolk, Va., to the north, and the Outer Banks to the east.

Now, visitors also are discovering Elizabeth City, thanks to additions in recent years of Port Discover science museum, Arts of the Albemarle at The Center and Museum of the Albemarle as well as a number of local observances, festivals and entertainment events.

These attributes are good for local citizens, good for Elizabeth City’s image and good for the economy.

The lure of cultural heritage tourism is a relatively recent development in our area, but it’s been working in other areas for many years. Just look at the historic Williamsburg, Va.

Bringing the message to Elizabeth City that there’s more to be gained here through cultural heritage tourism was North Carolina Secretary of Cultural Resources Linda Carlisle, who was the keynote speaker at last week’s annual meeting of the Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce.

Carlisle explained how communities that celebrate the arts are those that attract new residents, bring in visitors and generate revenues in heritage tourism funding — even during a weak economy.

“I see a community that values what they have, that are exploring and exposing what they have to the greater community, who are building on those assets,” she said.

Cultural and heritage tourists tend to stay longer, and they return.

“And that translates into spending more money,” she said.

To Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County, that translates into more activity at local businesses, which generates more sales and occupancy tax revenues, which helps boost the bottom line of our municipal budgets.

It can also translate into visitors moving here and becoming residents, which generates other benefits for the city as well as revenues.

Cultural heritage tourism is defined by The National Trust for Historic Preservation as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present. It includes cultural, historic and natural resources.”

An investment in a community’s cultural arts, history and heritage generally brings profitable returns many times over. Communities are stronger, have more to offer and are consequently more desirable places to live.

However, with a weak economy and tighter state budgets, such programs are often targeted for budget cuts. Cutting funding for the Museum of the Albemarle, for example, would be disastrous, Carlisle said.

“The last thing Elizabeth City needs is to have that museum sitting closed and not operating,” she said.

The Museum of the Albemarle has a staff of 17 people, a $1 million budget and draws an estimated 72,000 visitors a year. It has numerous exhibits, including the newly opened Civil War exhibit observing the 150th anniversary of the war in the Albemarle. It also offers a hands-on history program, live demonstrations and educational programs.

The state Legislature is looking at ways to cut the budget, including whether museums, aquariums and parks should be placed in a single agency. A draft of the study is expected this month. Last year, the museum was spared the budget knife, but there is uncertainty about the year ahead and beyond.

Not to be forgotten, there have been other attractions that have recently opened, including the $1.7 million South Park Sports Complex off Weeksville Road. While primarily for use by local ballplayers for league play, the complex is also expected to host many regional baseball and softball tournaments. Accordingly, many people will be visiting Elizabeth City for the first time.

It is a sports tourism attraction, which also brings the same tax benefits that cultural and heritage tourism generates, and helps to make Elizabeth City and Pasquotank County that much more desirable.

“It’s one of those quality of life issues that people look for,” City Manager Rich Olson recently said.

Making perhaps the strongest point about the benefits of local cultural heritage tourism is the growing popularity and success of Arts of the Albemarle at The Center in the renovated Lowry Chesson building on Main Street. The Center houses the Jaquelin Jenkins Gallery — home to 250 artists, craftsmen and photographers; the AOA School of the Arts; the Maguire Theatre — a state-of-the-art 230 seat performance space; and site of numerous programs and exhibits related to the arts, music and culture of the region.

We urge residents, officials and our representatives to continue supporting the arts, history and cultural heritage. It’s good for everyone.