Ecotourism

Blue Ridge Outdoors is your guide to hiking in the Southeast, biking in the Blue Ridge and Appalachian adventures from the Highlands to the Piedmont.

A hub for ecotourism - helping users become more conscious of their ecofoot print, posting news articles and interesting thoughts in regards to both ecotourism and sustainability.

The International Ecotourism Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting ecotourism globally. Founded in 1990, the organization strongly contributes to the development of ecotourism while providing guidelines and standards, technical assistance, training, research and publications.

Covers the people, activities, gear, art, and politics of the world outside. Online photo galleries. Website for the magazine.

Provides articles from the current issue as well as an archive of past issues. Website for the magazine.

The idea of creating an international movement for protecting heritage emerged after World War I. The 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage developed from the merging of two separate movements: the first focusing on the preservation of cultural sites, and the other dealing with the conservation of nature.

The World Tourism Organization is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

The Conservation Fund’s efforts to conserve lands along the Blue Ridge Parkway date to 1998, when we helped NPS protect over 8,000 acres of spectacular views, clean waters, and recreational opportunities along the parkway. That was just the start!

With attractions and trails already in place, a new initiative called Project Green Back, an Appalachian Regional Commission–funded program, is focusing on "connecting the dots" by helping entrepreneurs create amenities and services such as campgrounds, outfitters, guide services, lodging, shopping, and dining.

Virginia Tourism is proud to be a supporting partner of the Virginia Green program, our state’s initiative to encourage green tourism practices in all aspects of our tourism industry.