August Tourism Newsletter — New Gold Standard Sites; Don’t Miss the Global Summit Discount

Sustainable Tourism in Focus at Our Global Summit this October

This October (10/7-9) in Boulder, Colorado, Leave No Trace is hosting a global gathering to network, share knowledge and build strategies to protect natural resources for years to come. Creating a more sustainable tourism economy will be a major theme, including a keynote address by Sherry Rupert, President/CEO of the American Indian Native Alaskan Tourism Association. The full summit agenda and registration info are available online.

CalTravel Gathering to Feature a Leave No Trace Beach Clean-up

California partners attending this year’s CalTravel Summit in Oceanside, CA (9/9-11) are invited to meet the Leave No Trace tourism team at the show, including a “dawn patrol” beach clean-up outside the Seabird Hotel at 6:30 AM on Sept. 10. We’re excited to give back to the host community and meet conference delegates throughout the event.

Empower Your Community by Applying for a Spotlights Visit

Leave No Trace Spotlights are a no-cost way for your community to tackle unwanted impacts and build enduring strategies to protect nature. This program is conducted in a range of natural areas, from national forests to suburban and city parks. Anyone can apply, but you will need to coordinate the effort with local land managers. Get your application ready soon as the window for priority submissions closes on Aug. 23.

NEWS AND NOTES:

• This story on over-tourism from Outside Online features successful strategies while exposing the problems associated with heavy visitation.
• Leave No Trace and the National Park Service have partnered on education initiatives for more than thirty years—here’s a recent example.
• Our partners at Matador Network help destination management organizations craft and distribute amazing Leave No Trace-themed content — check out this recent article highlighting responsible recreation in Vermont.