The city’s efforts to promote sustainability show that such actions can remain compatible with a thriving tourism industry.
Discover Flagstaff, the city’s destination marketing organization, takes a more nuanced approach to the event by celebrating it as “Eco-Tourism” Week, reflecting the city’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. This commitment has been recognized far beyond our city. Earlier this year the BBC ranked Flagstaff among the 10 most sustainable cities in the United States that are worth a visit.
The British national public service broadcaster cited Flagstaff programs such as Fix-It Clinics, where residents gather on weekends to help one another repair broken or worn-out items to keep them out of the landfill, in its ranking.
Another rationale the BBC provided was the city’s pioneering efforts to protect the night sky from light pollution. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Flagstaff becoming the first International Dark Sky City. With more than 200 locations around the globe following the city’s footsteps, Flagstaff will always be remembered as a leader in this important sustainability movement. And Flagstaff remains the most populous of the dark-sky places to this day.
The city’s efforts to promote sustainability show that such actions can remain compatible with a thriving tourism industry. Flagstaff welcomes about 5 million visitors to the city annually, and travel serves as the foundation for the city’s economy. And this year, many of those visitors are expected to find their way to Flagstaff specifically because of its sustainability efforts. The Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition continues to educate people about the benefits of protecting the night sky, and has a full lineup of events throughout the year that will inspire travelers to put Flagstaff on their itinerary.
Living in a world-renowned destination like Flagstaff, where people from the world over travel to see attractions such as the Grand Canyon and famous Lowell Observatory, can be a reminder of the treasures among us – some of the most scenic landscapes imaginable are in the city’s backyard.
Discover Flagstaff strives to balance the benefits of visitation with the values held high by the residents of this mountain town. In addition to promoting the city’s sustainability bona fides, the city also works to promote year-round “stay and play responsibly” visitation and is encouraging visitation during softer months.
The DMO also spends a considerable amount of its efforts to remind visitors of important safety messages, such as “Be Fire Aware,” and to “Leave no Trace,” as well as important communications that inform visitors on safe and appropriate places to play in the snow when winter storms bring thousands of families to Arizona’s Winter Wonderland.
All of these efforts support the restaurants, hotels, motels, attractions and other businesses that employ about 8,000 people in the city’s tourism sector. The 2% Bed, Board and Beverage (BBB) tax on accommodations and restaurants also plays an important role in funding recreation facilities (parks, Flagstaff Urban Trails System, school fields, city sports facilities), beautification, arts and sciences, economic development and other highly valued city programs. FBN
By Ryan Randazzo
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