State’s diverse culture seen as tourist draw

PROMOTING CULTURE: Raymond "Two Hawks" Watson, chief of the Mashapaug Nahaganset Tribe, is seen in the studio that he and his wife have in Providence. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO
PROMOTING CULTURE: Raymond "Two Hawks" Watson, chief of the Mashapaug Nahaganset Tribe, is seen in the studio that he and his wife have in Providence. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

As an African-American and chief of the Mashapaug Nahaganset Tribe, Raymond “Two Hawks” Watson knows all too well what it feels like to be underrepresented in today’s society.

An advocate of cultural diversity, the 36-year-old promotes the benefits of living in multicultural Rhode Island, a state with a broad cultural heritage represented in a population of just over 1 million.

The Providence native, who still lives in the city with his wife, believes cultural tourism – the act of visiting another country to experience the culture, language, food and way of life – is one way Rhode Island can raise awareness of its “natural resources.” He says the latter can be used as a draw to strengthen and deepen an already robust, albeit shallow, tourism industry.

In an application for the 2016 Rhode Island Foundation Innovation Fellowship, which he won, Watson proposed the Providence Cultural Equity Initiative, an organization which will promote an agenda focused on cultural heritage, history and diversity that will aid Rhode Islanders in recognizing their state’s potential value as a multicultural epicenter.

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The fellowship, with funding from philanthropists Letitia and John Carter, awarded Watson $300,000. He’ll use the money over the next three years to establish the PCEI’s cultural agenda and develop the groundwork for a cultural-tourism industry in Rhode Island.

“There aren’t very many places in the United States where you can meet the scale and diversity of people from across the world that you can in Providence,” he added.

To Watson, the Cape Verdeans, Italians, Portuguese and French – all of whom call Rhode Island home – offer potential visitors an experience no less significant than some of the world’s most well-known tourist destinations.

Watson first experienced the impact of cultural tourism when, on his honeymoon last October, he and his wife visited Teotihuacan in Mexico.

“I was blown away by how they married indigenous cultures and colonial culture and the way they used that combination to raise awareness of cultural value,” he said.

Upon his return, Watson remembered he was disappointed by the way Rhode Island overlooked its indigenous populations. Tourism in Rhode Island, said Watson, is “predominantly Eurocentric” and the focus of that history does not often include the perspective of indigenous cultures.

“There are examples of the European influence everywhere. Only every once in a while do you see places recognizing the indigenous population,” he said.

Watson’s proposal aims to market the state’s multiculturalism in the same manner as its renowned beaches or historic mansions.

When embraced fully, cultural tourism can be more than a campaign to diversify the type of landmarks visited by tourists because it delivers such a significant economic impact. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce and National Endowment for the Arts, in 2009 cultural tourism accounted for 78 percent of all U.S. tourism, 118 million people. These travelers spend $192 billion annually, an average of 36 percent more than other types of visitors.

“Beaches or sailing are things you can get anywhere in New England. You can’t get the same [concentration] of cultural heritage, history and diversity anywhere other than Providence,” said Watson.

Rhode Island Foundation CEO and President Neil D. Steinberg was particularly intrigued by Watson’s idea.

“Ray has an impressive strategy for creating change and addressing the challenges our state faces by focusing on our greatest natural resource – our people,” said Steinberg.

Watson was selected out of a pool of 200 applicants for his innovation and creativity.

On April 13, Watson accepted the award at a reception held by the Rhode Island Foundation.

In his speech, after introducing himself as CEO and founder of PCEI for the first time, he said: “In Rhode Island we have Gaspee Day, we started the American Revolution, we started freedom of religion, we started freedom of speech – to think that we can’t be the cultural capital of the U.S. is thinking too small for who we are.”

Kristen Adamo, vice president of marketing and communications at the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, agrees the tourism industry in Rhode Island could be doing a better job of representing all Rhode Islanders.

She believes multiculturalism is represented, “to an extent,” but added, “Anything that fully fleshes out [Providence’s] rich history is a good thing.”

The robust restaurant culture boasted by the capital city, said Adamo, is on the right track.

“One of the reasons why Providence is a top culinary destination is because of our rich ethnic traditions,” she added.

Looking forward, Adamo said: “this is an area of opportunity, and as a tourism marketer you’re always looking for something new to add to the mix.” •

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