SANTA FE—New Mexico Tourism Department’s Ecotourism Program, in partnership with EcoNewMexico, announces the launching of the first-ever “fast track” pilot projects, targeting the Gila Wilderness and surrounding areas; and the wilderness areas and native lands surrounding Taos.
“The pilot-project designation means these two areas will become the focus of our ecotourism initiative,” said Jennifer Hobson, deputy director of the Tourism Department and director of the program. “All our efforts will be dedicated to transforming these two destinations into truly unique and innovative ecotourism destinations. That is not to say that the other communities and areas are any less important, but based on our guiding principles for the decision making process, it came down to these two areas.”
“Ecotourism has the potential to make New Mexico an even more enthralling destination for travelers from around the world,” said Michael Cerletti, secretary of the Tourism Department. “This initiative will build on the equity and add further dimension to our ‘Land of Enchantment’ marketing initiatives.”
The New Mexico Legislature, with the support of Governor Bill Richardson, approved a $250,000 appropriation to fund the Department’s ecotourism project in Fiscal Year 2010. Following a request for proposals process, the Tourism Department contracted with EcoNewMexico, LLC to “take inventory of ecotourism assets throughout the state; educate communities on ecotourism and teach ecotourism marketing skills; and work with other statewide agencies and public and private entities.
Strong Support for Initiative
“Over the past year we have traveled throughout the state and have met with many residents living in communities located in rural and wilderness areas,” said Charles “Chip” Cunningham, managing director of EcoNewMexico, LLC. “Through our asset mapping of the state and through our workshops we have met with enthusiastic support for the statewide ecotourism initiative and every community that we met with expressed a wonderful appreciation for this initiative.”
Hobson said Taos and the Gila Wilderness areas were chosen from all the areas visited and assessed based on the following criteria:
• Is the destination world-class and truly unique, offering what no other destination can?
• Are its residents “ready, willing and able” to commit all that is necessary to make it a successful ecotourism destination, with emphasis on the vision and values of a community?
• Does it have the potential to show a measurable before-and-after scenario on how ecotourism has changed tourism in that area?
• Is the community working group coming together as a strong unit, and is it interested in the greater good of the statewide ecotourism initiative set forth by the Tourism Department?
“These two communities demonstrated a very real commitment to our initiative, and a conscious ability to work together for the conservation of wilderness and preservation of indigenous cultures while being true to the spirit of adventure-based ecotourism,” Hobson said.
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