The Cultural Heritage Tourism Study was commissioned and funded by the Arizona Office of Tourism to generate information about cultural heritage tourists in Arizona. Data was collected from October 2004 to September 2005 at 18 sites and three festivals located throughout the state. Sites were selected by the Arizona Office of Tourism and staff of the Arizona Humanities Council in consultation with the research team led by Kathleen Andereck, Ph.D., and Evelen Ng, Graduate Research Associate, Department of Recreation and Tourism Management, Arizona State University. Sites emphasized Arizona history and culture, including a Native American and/or Hispanic focus.

The primary purpose of the cultural heritage tourism study was to generate information about cultural heritage tourists in Arizona. The project was a year in duration with on-site contacts beginning in October 2004 and ending in September 2005. The survey sites were selected and enlisted by Arizona Office of Tourism and Arizona Humanities Council staff in consultation with the ASU research team. A wide variety of types of sites and three events were enlisted to ensure representation of the variety of cultural heritage attractions in Arizona, diverse geographic locations, and sites with high enough visitation to gather an adequate number of questionnaires.