A Ball State University study has good news and bad news about the condition of Indiana's tourism industry.
The study, "Cultural Tourism in Indiana: The Impact and Clustering of the Arts and Creative Activities in this Recession," was conducted by the Center for Business and Economic Research.
Michael Hicks, one of the study's authors, said he was "very interested in the subject of arts tourism and cultural tourism."
The study found tourism in Indiana is more resistant to economic decline than other sectors of the economy.
The study also found Hoosiers increase their spending on cultural activities in the state when the economy is worse.
"People are substituting the Disney trip or the European trip for something local," Hicks said.
Even with an increase in ticket sales during the recession, local cultural tourism venues are still facing pressure, according to the study. It says many museums, zoos and parks are supported through taxes and private giving.
The drop in investment values has decreased the value of endowments of cultural venues themselves. It has also decreased donations from foundations that would normally support these cultural venues. As tax revenues decrease, so does government support of arts and culture.
The study also measured the size of the cultural tourism industry in Indiana. The authors said they believe it is the first large-scale study to do this.
The report defines cultural tourism as "activities related to museums, historical sites, zoos and parks, performing arts of all types, media development and broadcasting, and digital design."
Cultural tourism generates nearly $5 billion for Indiana's economy and employs more than 40,000 people, according to the study.
This does not include revenue generated from things cultural tourists buy while in the area that are not directly related to the arts.
The study said most of this activity is clustered in the Indianapolis and Chicago areas.
Other areas with strong cultural tourism were around universities.
Delaware County is one of the top 10 counties in Indiana in terms of revenue and employment in the art and creative sectors. The art and creative sectors employed more than 1,000 people and directly generated nearly $90 million in revenues.
According to the study, when the effects of new demand and increased household spending is added to the direct effects, the arts and creative sectors in Delaware County bring in more than $140 million and employ more than 1,700 people.
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