Tourism Potentials in American Middle-Sized Cities: The Case of Wilmington, Delaware, and Albany, New York

Abstract

Tourism in small American cities is often problematic. Many do not have the images and attractions to lure tourists. This is particularly true for cities with myopic local politics, crumbling infrastructures and unstable demographics. Lacking an alternative economic development plan, tourism has become a possibility if not an imperative. Often such cities are slow to realize the possibilities of a tourist-oriented future. This paper analyses the tourism potential of two relatively small cities, Willington, Delaware, and Albany, New York. Using interviews of city leaders we assessed the readiness of these two cities for a tourism-based economy.

Notes

1 In 2005 the New York State Museum had 315,405 visitors and the Pepsi arena had 602,561 attendees.

2 Albany advertised in all the Hudson Valley newspapers and out-of-town outlets ranging from USA Weekend to Family Circle. They also attend trade shows around the nation.

3 These data are from the 2000 US Census. The remaining percentages are individuals identified as other.

4 The court ruled that a city could use eminent domain to transfer private property from one owner to another for the purpose of economic development (Kelo v. City of New London 545 US. 469).