Tourism Board

The Tourism Board meets the first Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Barn.

The Hillsborough Visitors Center is located at 150 E. King St. in the Alexander Dickson House. Tourism information is available at the center and through the town's tourism website.

Mission and Purpose

The Hillsborough Tourism Board was established by the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners in 1994 to:

• Promote travel, tourism and visitor services.
• Preserve, enhance and program our historic built and natural environment.
• Sponsor programs and activities designed to improve Hillsborough's attraction to visitors.

To further these objectives, the Tourism Board has the specific mission to solicit individuals and groups to visit and stay in Hillsborough; to assist these individuals and groups with visitor services during their stay; to encourage visitors to enjoy Hillsborough's historic built and natural environment and its cultural, entertainment and recreational opportunities; and to preserve, enhance and program our non-revenue producing historic built and natural environment and attractions to entice such individuals and groups to visit our town.

The Tourism Board's activities are supported by the proceeds from a 1 percent tax on prepared food and beverages. Forty percent of the net proceeds of this "meals tax" are allocated to facilities, programs and services designed to attract tourists to the town or made necessary or desirable because of the impact of tourism on the town. Sixty percent of the net proceeds are allocated toward the operation of the Visitors Center, production and distribution of promotional materials, including a restaurant directory, marketing, market research, visitor services and other services designed to make visitors' stay pleasant and instructive. The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough operates the Visitors Center from the Alexander Dickson House and administers Hillsborough's tourism program from its offices there. The center includes a gift shop, tours, exhibits and a period garden. 

Background 

Cultural heritage tourism — the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry — is one of the most sensible economic development tools around. It takes advantage of what a community already has — its historic places, culture and scenery. Hillsborough has this in abundance! 

While many communities across North Carolina are only now discovering the benefits and positive impact that cultural heritage tourism has on the local economy, Hillsborough has been emphasizing historic preservation and the promotion of its history and built resources for many years. It has long been a draw for tourists seeking a glimpse of Piedmont history — beginning in the 1950-60s with "pilgrimages" of historic sites organized by the Hillsborough Garden Club and adopted and expanded by the Hillsborough Historical Society; the establishment of the Orange County Historical Museum by the Garden Club; the purchase and restoration of the Burwell School by the Historic Hillsborough Commission; and the bounty of historical research resulting in tours, pamphlets and the National Register nomination of Hillsborough's historic district. 

Ten years ago, the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners supported the passage of a tax on prepared food and beverages to be used to support local tourism efforts through the promotion, preservation and programming of local historic sites and attractions. In conjunction with this, several local groups primarily responsible for the existing tourism activities and sites in Hillsborough came together to form the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, a 501c3 nonprofit representing six (now seven) organizations. The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, structured to represent the interests of Hillsborough tourism and preservation stakeholders, administers the town's cultural heritage tourism program. This public/private partnership has resulted in a flourishing program that promotes Hillsborough to visitors; operates the Orange County Visitors Center; provides a variety of visitor services; assists with strengthening Hillsborough's tourism organizations so that they may continue to meet the needs of visitors; and develops and expands new interpretive opportunities and beautification projects that not only appeal to tourists but also add to the quality of life for residents. 

Hillsborough's tourism program has grown tremendously and continues to grow. Arts events, concerts, tours, festivals, exhibits, educational programs, streetscape improvements — few of these would be possible without the support and vision of the Hillsborough Tourism Board, the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and the hard work of Hillsborough hospitality industry partners, including historic sites, restaurants, retail shops, cultural organizations and countless volunteers. 

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this success! 

Current Membership

Meetings in the Next 60 Days

Date	Title	Agenda
Monday, June 3, 2013 - 5:30pm	Tourism Board Meeting

Previous Meeting Agenda and Minutes

For a list of meetings including agenda and minutes, click here.

For a list of archived meeting files, click here.