Creating tourism products using natural and cultural assets.
To learn more about regional tourism development, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Mountain Counties Heritage, Inc. at (207) 778-3885.

Rural Destination Tourism can be defined as multi-day, multi-dimensional visits oriented towards appreciation and use of authentic, local natural and cultural assets and experiences.“ Mountain Counties Heritage, as a member of the Rural Destination Tourism Collaborative, is working on two prototype collobarative efforts to create and market tourism experiences thematically organized around Maine’s inland outdoor sporting resources and opportunities.

Franklin County Tourism Network
The purpose of the Franklin County Tourism Network is to create an effective set of working relationships among government agencies, non-profits, and businesses to support tourism development in Franklin County. The group will promote collaboration on education, research, and other business development and promotional activities required to produce and market seamless, high quality visitor experiences.
View the Franklin County Tourism Network Workgroup. 
View Business Interview Summary. 

Share Your Heritage Projects and Workgroups 
In 2005, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Rural Development Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – along with the Maine Mountain Heritage Network -sponsored a workshop to train teams to develop “Share Your Heritage” itineraries (themed heritage tourism itineraries). Mountain Counties Heritage has been working with local organizations to create 3-day visitor itineraries as a way to enhance a visitor’s experience and to generate return visits.  

Franklin Foothills Itinerary
Businesses and heritage sites came together in 2007 to create a three-day visitor itinerary for the Franklin Foothills. The goal was to create a positive visitor experience that generates repeat trips to the region and new revenues for area businesses. The end result was the "From Homespun to Grand Opera in the Franklin Foothills". A version of this itinerary will be featured on the Maine Office of Tourism website in 2008.
View Franklin Foothills Itinerary Workgroup.
View the "From Homespun to Grand Opera in the Franklin Foothills" flyer.

Rangeley Lakes Region Itinerary
"The Rangeley Lakes: Snapshot of Woods, Water, and Wildlife" itinerary is almost completed. Businesses and heritage sites are currently sending over their revisions, images and participation forms. The itinerary should be up on an external marketing site by late spring.
View Rangeley Region Itinerary Workgroup.

Bethel Area Itinerary
"Relax, Rejuvenate, and Reconnect in the Historic Bethel Region" is in draft form and has received approval from the Bethel project leaders. Businesses and heritage sites included in the itinerary will be contacted in early June. All stakeholders will be invited to offer suggestions and revisions. Images and permissions will be collected in June.