In the spring, the Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council received ten International Visitor Leadership Program participants from Bolivia who traveled to the United States to explore best practices in eco-tourism. The goals behind their project focused on how the eco-tourism business model can help benefit local economies while contributing to the protection of natural habitats and how eco-tourism can raise cultural and environmental awareness.
Dr. Lisa Assante of the University of West Florida and City Council Executive Don Kraher welcomed the group at Pensacola City Hall, providing insight into the local area and addressing how the community prepares workers for the tourism industry. This segued into a meeting and conversation with the Visit Pensacola team where Director of Marketing and Communications Nicole Stacey gave an overview of Pensacola’s tourism industry and the role of promotional strategies.
Volunteer Coordinator Nicole Stephens arranged for the Bolivians to spend time at the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, a small but powerful nonprofit which works to save threatened and endangered sea turtles through educational programming. The visitors saw how this dynamic nonprofit engages locals and tourists in education and conservation. Conversation also focused on how small organizations can become self-sustaining.
The group spent a considerable amount of time away from the beach where they discussed public and private partnerships and addressed further questions on marketing and community tourism and customer service with Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Director Julie Morgan at Blackwater River State Park. Park Manager Marshall Shaw and Park Ranger Darryl Hatfield also discussed sustainable tourism and the opportunity to combine eco-tourism with biodiversity awareness and wildlife protection in the 600 acre park which sits within the 238,000 acres of the Blackwater River State Forest.
At the end of this meeting, the group explored the park via canoe before heading over to Adventures Unlimited where staff member Marc shared his love of sustainable tourism with the group and answered many questions on safety regulations, sustainability, and conservation. The Bolivians reluctantly left this inspirational conversation and continued their exploration of the rural areas of Santa Rosa County.
At Coldwater Gardens, owner Rusty Erdman met the group and introduced them to his business’s eco-designed cabins, modern tree house, and traditional camping sites. The gardens use a variety of growing techniques, including aquaponics and vertical hydroponics, and produce fresh produce, honey, and eggs which are sold at the farmers’ market in downtown Pensacola. This visit introduced another model of educating, entertaining, and enticing tourists and was the perfect way to end a project focusing on raising cultural and environmental awareness through eco-tourism.
The Gulf Coast Citizen Diplomacy Council thanks everyone who helped make this project a success.
