H O W EC OTO URIS M IS RE SHAPING
AP PA L AC HIA Written and Designed by Emily Zeiler Digital Managing Editor
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s the country is working toward building a better future in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, some Appalachians are focusing on ecotourism and encouraging the growth of small businesses. Appalachia Ohio has been subject to multiple efforts in recent years to improve infrastructure and to bring economic prosperity into the region, with some efforts focusing on ecotourism. Ecotourism is “the practice of touring natural habitats in a manner meant to minimize ecological impact,” according to the Webster Dictionary. It also aims to observe wildlife and to support conservation efforts. A study conducted by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) found that ecotourism can incentivize communities to take care of their environments because their incomes can be linked to the preservation of said environments. It concluded that ecotourism operations have the potential to return up to 95% of its earnings into the local economy. Politicians also believe that ecotourism has the potential to bring more jobs into communities than other industries such as mining or timber, showing a shift in industries in the United States. Jasmine Facun, the Baileys Trail System program assistant with Rural Action, talked about using the scenery that exists in Appalachia in a previous interview with The New Political. “Sustainable development is possible
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in a rural place, and we don’t need to necessarily look at our natural resources as something that needs to be extracted,” Facun said. “The beauty of where we live is a natural resource.” In November, Vinton County Probate Judge Bob Grillo approved the creation of the Vinton County Park District. Proposed by the county’s marketing director Caleb Appleman the park district is intended to serve as a tool for economic growth, a press release said. “There are beautiful areas of our county away from the existing state parks and forests, but there isn’t much for a visitor to do other than drive past private property,” Appleman said in the press release. “We can use the park district not just to conserve scenic natural areas and historic sites, but to build tourism assets that will provide recreational and educational opportunities,” he added. “This is our county government’s first major step toward taking an active role in transforming our local economy from one based on mining and timber to one based on tourism and outdoor recreation.” A previous report from The New Political noted that Airbnbs and other lodging options have been popping up near the Baileys trailheads, giving travelers a convenient place to stay and access the trails. Additionally, in December, the Vinton County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Winter M a g a z i n e V I , J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2
