The Tourists are Coming!

I am bipolar about tourism. I like being a tourist, but I don’t necessarily like being around tourists. Because of this ambivalence, I try to be a good tourist when I am visiting a place that isn’t my home. Similarly, I am kind when I am around them in my town and the park.

Tourists visit Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park year around. We are no longer just a summer destination, although more people find summer enjoyable. Every season, however, holds something special for visitors. Travelling has increased worldwide, and our destination is no exception.

I have worked with students interested in tourism careers for decades, but I have never been a big fan emotionally. Professionally I know that tourism has a huge economic impact on communities. On the other hand, a balance is necessary to address economic importance as well as sustainable environments. It is not either/or but both/and.

I am committed to sustainable tourism. Sustainable tourism refers to a level of tourism activity that can be maintained over the long term because it results in benefits for the social, economic, natural, and cultural environments of the area where it occurs. Sustainable tourism can also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience for tourists while it raises their awareness about environmental integrity.

Another popular term is green tourism referring to any tourism activity operating in an environmentally friendly manner. Protecting natural habitats and fragile environments may best be done by banning visitors completely to these areas. That solution, however, is not viable as tourism is imperative for many local economies. Green sustainable tourism may offer the best of both worlds by protecting the ecology of an area while keeping businesses thriving.

I try to nurture sustainable traveling. Sustainable travelers understand that their actions create an ecological and social footprint on the places they visit. They are mindful of the destinations, accommodations, and activities chosen. I think about how I can best be a sustainable traveler with my activities—using public transportation when possible, reducing my use of water, learning as much as possible about the residents. I also aim to help visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park understand how the “authority of the resource” dictates ecological balance.

RESPECT is the key to sustainable tourism. It includes reverence for the environment as well as for the people experiencing that place whether tourists or locals. Courtesy and gratitude are important components that I try to offer whether I am a traveler or a community member welcoming others to this beautiful place.