Aye, Cape Breton haes dane a braw job o wairkin oot their interpretation o the "Cultural Heritage Tourism" concept. Ah've gaen up mair than ance for Summer programs at the "Gaelic College" near Baddeck (the plaice isnae a fu-fledgit college, but haes a sma campus wi dorms, museum, library, classruims, a performance space ["Hall o the Clans"] an shop fu o Gaelic lairners' buiks, whigmaleeries, an their ain kilt-makkers. They run cultural education programs in Spring & Summer.)
Ah've haird that, a few years back, there wis a grand consultation on "post-industrial economic options" for the Canadian Maritime Provinces & some o the New England states. The pawkie consultants advisit aa o the state & provincial Hie-Heid-Yins tae invest in "cultural heritage tourism." The Canadian Maritimes followit their advice. Maine chose tae ignore 'em. Ah've driven thro New Brunswick & Nova Scotia up tae Cape Breton-- their promotional tactics an thochtfu coordination o sairvices & sites is pure deid brilliant!!! Ah loved the journey an Ah'd dae it agin in a hairtbeat gin Ah haed the time an sillar.
Meanwhile, Maine is bumblin alang, ettlin tae solve oor ain regional economic waes. We'd dae weel tae explore the possibilities o Cultural Heritage Tourism here, for it'd dae wonders for the health & pride o oor doonhairtit communities, especially in toons haird-hit by the closings o mills & factories. We'd love tae ride on the coat-tails o oor Celtic & Acadian cousins tae the North. Hmmmm... aiblins we cuid offer a "Southern extension route" for Cape Breton's "Ceilidh Trail"?!?