Visit North Carolina and the N.C. Outdoor Recreation Industry Office on Thursday announced a new partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to maintain outdoor experiences and manage natural assets for future generations.
North Carolina becomes the first coastal state to partner with Leave No Trace, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the outdoors and inspiring people to use it responsibility.
The new stewardship campaign will play a central role in the tourism strategy for economic recovery from the pandemic, said Visit NC Director Wit Tuttell. Given the relative safety of outdoor spaces and a hunger to escape confinements imposed by COVID-19, North Carolina must be ready to welcome travelers and engage them in protecting the spaces they crave.
“The partnership with Leave No Trace will enlarge the substantial economic activity generated by travelers and North Carolina’s outdoor recreation industry,” Tuttell said. “Stewardship of the state’s natural wonders will also ensure the future for the ageless places that define who we are, arouse our awe and make us humble, and turn our sights outward to infinite possibility.”
Heidi Walters, Visit NC’s director of partner and industry relations, joined Sam Walker on OBX Today on The All New News Talk 92.3 WZPR to talk about the new partnership.
About Visit North Carolina:
Visit North Carolina is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that oversees the state’s efforts in business and job recruitment and retention, international trade, and tourism, film and sports development. The mission of Visit NC is to unify and lead the state in developing North Carolina as a major destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events and film production. One of the state’s most vital industries, tourism generates economic activity and employment in each of the state’s 100 counties. Domestic travelers to North Carolina spent $26.7 billion in 2019 and contributed $2.16 billion in state and local tax revenues. Tourism spending creates $551 in yearly savings for the average household. VisitNC.com.About the N.C. Outdoor Recreation Industry Office:
North Carolina was one of the first states with an office dedicated to promoting outdoor recreation. Created by the General Assembly in 2018, the N.C. Outdoor Recreation Industry Office leads the state’s efforts to expand the industry and support the 260,000 jobs it sustains. With $28 billion in spending on products and outdoor activity by residents and visitors, North Carolina ranks seventh in the nation. Based in Asheville, the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that oversees the state’s efforts in business and job recruitment and retention, international trade, and tourism, film and sports development. edpnc.com/industries/outdoor-recreation
About the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics:
The Colorado-based Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the environment by teaching people to enjoy it responsibly. The center has delivered educational programs in the United States and internationally since 1994. Leave No Trace works to educate, build partnerships, conduct research on best practices, and empower volunteerism. The center provides a foundation to build a nationwide outdoor ethic of critical importance for now and for the future. lnt.org