In last week's Standard, Pastor Rowe suggested the area could receive a much-needed economic influx by tailoring packages to Americans keen on tracing their family and national history.

Among his ideas are all-encompassing tours that include flights, accommodation, a historic trail and traditional British entertainment and fare. The plan would involve some farmhouses diversifying and being modified to cater to tourist needs.

While potential partners said there would be a lot of groundwork involved, they offered encouragement and were keen to hear more on the topic.

"In terms of the work we are doing, this would fit well with the Renaissance East Midlands ancestral and literary tourism project that is being piloted," said Hannah Gould, district council museum development officer.

"The idea is to get museums, archives and libraries working with tourism businesses to enable people tracing family history to have a better quality visit."

Mr Rowe cited links to America through former Alford residents Thomas Paine and Anne Hitchinson, both founding figures of the US, as well as explorer John Smith, from Willoughby, and Jamestown pilgrims drawn from throughout the wolds area.

Visit Lincolnshire head of marketing Emma Tatlow said current campaigns by her organisation focused on domestic tourism, but she was willing to meet and discuss the concept.

"The research that Mr Rowe has collected is invaluable to the bigger picture of understanding the county's unique selling points and promoting them could help boost the local visitor economy," said Miss Tatlow.

Alford Manor House manager Sara Blair-Manning was also open to considering involvement and noted attempts in 2007 to target the US market failed largely due to a poor exchange rate for visitors at the time.

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