How an international partnership is reshaping heritage tourism—and what agencies can learn from it
In July 2025, Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) announced the official formation of a Sister Byways partnership between the Colorado Scenic and Historic Byways Commission and the Scenic Byway Hokkaido Promotion Council in Japan.
This collaboration strengthens heritage experiences, deepens cross-cultural understanding, and promotes scenic byways as cultural and economic drivers in both regions.
From Idea To Agreement
The idea was first raised in May 2024, when a Hokkaido delegation proposed the partnership.
Colorado’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways highlight mountain passes, prairies, and historic routes. Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, has cultivated its Scenic Byway program for more than 20 years, linking communities with landscapes and heritage.