NEW YORK—New York State Division of Tourism’s iconic “I Love New York” heart logo has had a green makeover to celebrate the launch of responsibletravel.com’s new guide to responsible tourism in New York State.
The guide encourages travelers to escape the confines of the Big Apple and to discover an even bigger secret—the rest of New York State’s 11 regions. Searching out wilderness hiking trails connected to the city by mainline railways, motor-free lakes best explored by kayak and enthusiastic local New Yorkers dedicated to sharing and preserving their local environments, the guide highlights the best, most inspirational travel experiences which also support local New York State communities. The guide, written by Catherine Mack, is now live at responsibletravel.com/holidays/new-york-state/travel-guide.
I Love New York celebrated the launch of the guide by showcasing the green heart logo as sponsor of the “Best in Water Conservation” category at the World Responsible Tourism Awards, held at World Travel Market, London on November 6, 2013.
Gavin Landry, Executive Director of Tourism, New York State says, “New York State features some of the most beautiful natural assets in the U.S., from Niagara Falls to the 6 million acre Adirondack Park, to world class wine and beer trails, to the 765 mile Erie Canal with locks designed 100 years ago by Leonardo de Vinci. New York State has unparalleled responsible travel opportunities. We are excited that this new guide will open travelers’ eyes to the wealth of experiences to be found throughout New York State.”
New York State Highlights
• The Adirondack Mountains are larger than Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, the Grand Canyon plus the Great Smokies National Parks combined. Explore a myriad of trails on foot guided by local people who want to share their love and knowledge of the landscape.
• The Erie Canalway, once one of the most important industrial developments in the United States, has now been preserved as a 365 mile green corridor, a cycle trail offering a sustainable way to travel across the state and connect with both local history and burgeoning nature.
• From Central New York’s ubiquitous farm stalls running on “honor” systems to the 54 farmers markets in New York City selling produce from 230 local family farms and fishermen, local, freshly produced food is a staple in New York State. Straight from the farm to your fork.
• The 1,800 islands in the 1,000 Islands Seaway Region, stretching across the St. Lawrence River to Canada are perfect for wildlife-friendly, motor-free, water-based exploration.
• New York’s Amish Trail is just one example of tourism developed for the benefit of, and in partnership with, local communities. Through visiting local shops and purchasing handmade goods travelers support local families while getting a glimpse into a fascinating, but private way of life.
• The Genesee River, just one of New York State’s multitude of waterways, can be explored by kayak, rented from a community organization using the power of paddling to inspire local youth.
Justin Francis, co-founder of responsibletravel.com says, “We are delighted to be working with New York State to find and celebrate the best examples of responsible tourism. I was staggered by the diversity of experiences we found within the state, and by the contribution these make to conservation and communities. I think our clients will be too. We are thrilled that New York State has decided to turn perhaps the most powerful tourism branding in the world, I Love NY, green to help us launch this guide.
