The Sierra Nevada Conservancy provided a number of grants in fiscal year 2008, to enhance tourism and recreational opportunities in the range. Below are examples of some of those grants:
The June 8th travel section of the New York Times ran no less than three articles on different aspects of what National Geographic calls geo tourism. “Back to Nature and Ready for Guests,” featured birding in the Great Plains of North Dakota. No mind that the article also mentioned bison hunting, the article’s pull quote read, “Wildlife has made a comeback; bring on the eco-tourists.”
The “Choice Tables” article focused on Aspen’s food and wine festival, noting, “Chefs build menus on what the region’s farmers produce.” Another piece pictured kayakers passing through a mangrove tunnel in the Everglades.
Journalists are always looking for a good story, or a new hook to an old story. Heading into summer, it’s a good time to think about next winter. What might catch the attention of travel writers? Once you answer that question, let the California Travel and Tourism Commission help you reach journalists worldwide.
The California Travel and Tourism Commission offers two free marketing tools to the hospitality industry, local communities, and destinations:
The Sotoyome Resource Conservation District in Santa Rosa established the Fish Friendly Farming program in 1997, to protect the Russian River watershed. Laurel Marcus of the conservation district brought together local vintners, environmental groups, and various government agencies to create a template for improved land management.
The resulting workbook was designed to assist landowners evaluating their farming and land management practices, and then implementing “Beneficial Management Practices” (BMPs) that would promote sustainable agriculture, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and improve water quality.
If you consider yourself an “eco tourist,” consider joining a study of the “motivations and expectations of eco tour participants.” Hilary Mllar, who attends the London School of Economics, is conducting the study for her master’s dissertation on responsible tourism.
To join the study, please send responses to the following questions to Ms Millar, h.h.millar@lse.ac.uk:
California’s tourism industry stands to benefit from the economic troubles that plague the country at large. First, international travelers are taking advantage of the weak dollar to visit the U.S. According to the California Travel and Tourism Commission California, overseas arrivals at SFO surged 10% in 2007 from the previous year.
While fewer Japanese travelers came to the state, California experienced double digit growth in visitors from China and India. In addition, the number of French travelers grew by 21% in 2007.
Federal regulations require California’s four metropolitan planning organizations–the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the San Diego Association of Governments and the Southern California Association of Governments–to update their regional transportation plans at least every four years.
The plans have a 25 year horizon, and direct local, state and federal spending on transportation and transit. In recent years, the regional organizations have integrated smart growth and environmental protection into their plans.
Traffic congestion is bad for business, especially hospitality businesses. There is nothing hospitable about traffic jams, gridlock, and vehicle exhaust.
When tourists are stuck in traffic, they have less time to spend in local stores, restaurants, and destinations. Much of the serendipity of travel is lost when tourists are isolated from local people and local businesses by the isolating bubble of a car.
The hospitality industry has a large stake in the regional transportation plan for the San Francisco Bay Area, which the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is currently updating, as it does every four years. The plan will direct $122 billion in investments over the next 25 years, and for the first time, it will attempt to address climate change, smart growth, and transportation options, as well as gridlock.
Eileen Fisher, the eco-friendly apparel company, provides grants to women-owned businesses. Deadline for its 2008 grants is May 30, 2008.
There are a number of nonprofit organization, publi-private partnerships, and community development agencies promoting sustainable economic development, smart growth and nature-based and cultural heritage tourism. These groups share a number of characteristics, including:
Among the more successful organizations are the Sierra Business Council and the Jefferson Economic Development Institute in California and the North Carolina-based Handmade in America.
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