Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) is working to improve the visitor experience for travelers. A study of community and economic impact by PlaceEconomics will help determine how such improvements would affect Bethlehem’s downtown historic district.
PlaceEconomics is a private sector firm with more than 30 years of experience in analysis of the economic impacts of historic preservation. HBMS selected the firm through a formal search process.
Larry Eighmy, Chair of Strategic Planning for HBMS, explained that the goal is to create a “world-class visitor experience,” and to determine how much they can grow that area while still balancing the community’s needs.
The study will examine how the historical sites within the 20 acres of land that HBMS cares for can be better connected and more inviting for travelers. Officials say visitors arriving in Bethlehem don’t currently have an integrated way to travel between sites. Improvements could include restrooms, concessions, transportation, and more. By implementing ideas from other historical sites around the world, HBMS hopes to increase visitation, thus increasing revenue that can be put back into the properties.
To ensure community stakeholders are involved in the process, HBMS has created a Master Planning Initiative Advisory Council, including representatives from organizations like Air Products, the Bethlehem Parking Authority, the Coalition for Appropriate Transportation, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, and more.
The process is being done in the wake of a UNESCO World Heritage designation for Bethlehem’s Moravian Settlement. PlaceEconomics has broad experience in destinations with UNESCO designations, including Willemstad, Curacao; Yogyakarta, Indonesia; and Malaka, Malaysia.
