United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Road less traveled fastest-growing tourism market
Ecotourism is growing at an annual rate of 5%, or about three times better than the industry as a whole, reports the World Tourism Organization.
“It’s one of the fastest-growing parts of tourism,” said Dave Sollet, executive director of the International Ecotourism Society, based in Washington, D.C. told the Pittsburgh Business Times. “There is a consumer demand.”
That’s particularly good news for some US areas that traditionally have not been on visitor’s maps such as Appalachia in Virginia, where tourism is among the fastest growing industries.
“The Heart of Appalachia” region of Virginia comes with first-class credentials for ecotourism. That include thousands of acres of the Jefferson National Forest, the 4,500-acre Breaks Interstate Park (which includes the “Grand Canyon of the South”), and the 850-acre Natural Tunnel State Park, among others. The Appalachian Trail, the Trans-America Bike Route, and the new Heart of Appalachia Bike Route and Scenic Drive also weave their way through the region.
Jane Seekings, a senior consultant at Atlas Travel Service in Pittsburgh said the eco-trips usually skew young, meaning the 25 to 35 set.
“They like the adventure of going to places that aren’t well traveled,” she said. “As we get older, though, we want our creature comforts.”
Report by David Wilkening
John Alwyn-Jones
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm
British teen in serious condition after paraglider collision
JetBlue scraps London Gatwick flights