(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 05, 2009 ) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASILLA, Alaska—Tourism is now the one of the largest income generators for Alaska and a very important aspect of the Alaskan economy. However, there are negative environmental signs from this increase in tourism and outdoor recreation, including those from so called “eco or green tours”. A mistake that people often make when they think about sustainable tourism is just calling it “green travel.” The impacts of travel stretch far beyond the environment in Alaska- impaired wildlife behavior to visible signs of muddy scars across the fragile tundra tundra left by tour groups, to trash cans full of recyclables at lodges and campgrounds, and at times an overall disregard for the pristine nature that makes Alaska unique and special. This overall influence threatens to jeopardize the very nature of what makes travel in Alaska so special. Alaska Outdoors wants to contribute to tourism in Alaska in a positive way by integrating key sustainable travel business practices in everything they do.
Alaska Outdoors is dedicated to contribute to the long-term viability of adventure tourism and ecotourism in Alaska and the overall health of Alaska and its economy. By offering a variety of trips with minimal effect on the environment as possible, Alaska Outdoors is able to provide enriching, seamless and fun travel to the wilds of this unique area. A variety of sustainable practices are utilized every day both on the trips as well as behind the scenes. By traveling in small groups and staying at established campgrounds, travelers consume less water, electricity and fuel, this allows for better monitoring of the environmental impact. Efforts are made to purchase products that minimize packaging and utilize recycled content, both for trips and in the daily operations of the business. As members of Buy Alaska, an organization that matches local buyers with sellers, the network facilitates the purchase of locally-produced products and services for use on tours. By using locally produced products whenever available, including locally grown organic produce, farmers in the region are supported, which reduces the imports from outside of the state. Using and encouraging the use of locally owned and operated businesses is an integral part of the tourism business for Alaska Outdoors. Throughout the tourism travel “high” season the company works with numerous service providers spread over a vast geographic region within the state, including large and small day tour operators; this all results in spending hundreds of thousands of dollars within these regions on supplies, local lodging, food, gas, etc. which helps in boosting the local economy and employing local workers whenever possible. All guides are certified and trained in Leave No Trace and actively follow, per company policy, these principles. These sustainable travel practices contribute positively to the local economy in a direct and meaningful way and minimize the impacts of tour business operations on the people, wildlife and land of Alaska.
Alaska Outdoors is committed to running outstanding trips that are operated in the spirit of respect for Alaska, its residents and their guests. When traveling with Alaska Outdoors, Alaska comes to life, and the memories live on well after the trip has ended. For more information on trips with Alaska Outdoors visit the web: www.travelalaskaoutdoors.com.
