sign in sign up
<<
Home , Backpacking (travel), Lake Murray Country

Untapped Potential E c otou r is m i n t he Mi d l ands and St ate w i d e

By ERIC KENNETH WARD

.C. Sierra Club director Dell Isham makes a pop culture reference when he discusses the origins of the term “.” S Isham’s reference is to the iconic 1967 movie The Graduate, which tells the story of a confused college graduate, Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman), trying to his future amid the changing social and sexual mores of the ‘60s and against the backdrop of a decadent older generation.

At one point in the film, Benjamin gets some unsolicited Mike Dawson, director of the River Alliance, on the Three Rivers Greenway advice from family friend Mr. McGuire during a party. “I just near the Gervais Street bridge. Under Dawson’s leadership, the alliance has want to say one word to you,” Mr. McGuire tells him, “just spearheaded development of the Greenway. Photo by Anne Lewis one word — plastics.”

About 20 years after The Graduate Below the Radar Steve Camp is president and CEO of matter of time before ecotourism comes premiered, Isham, then a state legislator the Midlands Authority for Conventions, into its own locally. “This is a direction that in Oregon, gave a speech to a group of Also called nature-based , Sports & Tourism, which runs the has great potential.” environmentalists in Newport, Ore. Ending ecotourism merges traditional tourism with Center and other tourism On both counts he could be right, as his talk, he told the gathering, “I just want environmentally themed destinations. In entities. “I wouldn’t say it is,” Camp says there are promising signs on the horizon: many places it is a burgeoning industry, you to remember one thing — ecotourism.” when asked whether ecotourism is a • Feb. 8-11, the Chevy Open bass fishing producing large economic benefits for those Some in attendance applauded the specific part of the authority’s marketing. tournament, part of the Wal-Mart FLW communities. It also furthers education suggestion, Isham says, but others were “I think that we would like for it to play a Tour for anglers, is slated to be held at about and appreciation of the natural world aghast, a difference of opinion that reflects larger part,” he says. Lake Murray. About 400 fishers from 37 and the need to protect it. one of the main issues surrounding Despite the fact that Columbia is states, Canada and Japan will take part in But at the same time ecotourism holds ecotourism — how it impacts the draped around the Congaree River, Camp the competition, according to the Capital risks. If not conducted properly it can be environment. says, “In the past there has been limited City/Lake Murray Country Regional counterproductive to the very resources it Down here in Bush country, a lot of red opportunity to participate in that part of Tourism agency. staters tend to deride Oregon as practically utilizes, a threat that has given rise to an the community.” • Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the communistic, what with urban growth ecotourism code of conduct. But spearheaded by the River Alliance, International Downtown Association boundaries that actually limit how far a Meanwhile, despite a bevy of offerings, which is coordinating the ongoing plans to hold its spring conference this municipality can sprawl into the wild. Yet ecotourism is barely on the radar at the construction of the Three Rivers Greenway, year in Columbia. The event is scheduled it’s probably a good bet that many of those local and state levels, if at all. that’s beginning to change, he says. “I think for April 22-24. Beyond the economic same Oregon detractors haven’t even been In the Midlands, the sites range from we’re seeing now a concentrated effort to impact of the conference, it promises to the Beaver State. Congaree National Park and Harbison State make the river more a part of what makes big-time exposure for the capital city in And when it comes to ecotourism, been Forest to Lake Murray, the Three Rivers our community attractive.” its continuing renaissance. is the operative word. Greenway and others. The list for the rest of And while most decent-sized cities have Born in the modern era, ecotourism is includes the Palmetto Trail, museums and the like, far fewer have the Some of the selling points in landing the not a totally new term, but it is new enough Brookgreen Gardens and state and national type of outdoor opportunities Columbia conference were the city’s historic, cultural that an understanding of what it means and parks. offers, Camp says. “They’re something we and recreational amenities. A canoeing and where it came from is not widespread. “It’s [ecotourism] coming into its own can hang our hat on.” kayaking trip on the Saluda and Congaree For residents and leaders in the everywhere, and the Midlands needs to Dave Zunker, vice president of the city’s rivers is on the agenda for the first day. Midlands, however, and across the rest of step up and embrace it,” says Ken Driggers, Convention & Visitors Bureau, an arm of • In July 2007, meanwhile, the Junior the Palmetto State, it might be a good idea director of the Palmetto Conservation the Midlands Authority, puts it another Wildwater World Championships are to brush up on ecotourism. Given what’s in Foundation, which is overseeing way. In Columbia, Zunker says, people can scheduled to be held on the Saluda plain view on the landscape, and what’s not, development of the Palmetto Trail, a 425- go kayaking or canoeing in the shadows of River, an event that Zunker says will lure the suggestion holds as much truth as the mile pathway being built across the state skyscrapers yet still feel like they’re in the 100 or so competitors to the city. “And slogans “Columbia riverbanks region” and from the mountains to the sea. middle of wilderness. “People are naturally they’re gonna race,” he says. “smiling faces, beautiful places.” So far though, there hasn’t exactly been drawn to water,” he says. The calling card — expert-level rapids a rush to champion ecotourism here at Zunker says he believes that it’s only a created when water is released from the home. “The term ecotourism is sometimes used as a marketing ploy.” The West Columbia amphitheater exemplifies the kinds of public gathering places that can foster vibrant — Dell Isham, director of the S.C. Sierra Club, riverfront activity in the Midlands. on a practice known in conservation circles as “green washing” Photo by Eric Ward

Saluda Dam. in the Midlands, he says, is an “adopt a communities.” as those who have been on at least one In some respects, that Columbia landing” program for rivers similar to the • “In South Carolina, the total output ecotourism trip, the largest group, 26 isn’t promoting itself as an ecotourism state’s Adopt-a-Highway initiative to keep of the wildlife watching industry for percent, said they were willing to spend destination might not be surprising. As roadways litter free. Unfortunately, Page 1996 was $393 million, according to the $1,000 to $1,500 per outing. Their three Zunker says, traditionally the city has not says, landings frequently are trashed. [U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service]. Wildlife most important elements of a nature seen itself as a tourist town nor marketed Another thing that would help, he watching generated $247 million in were wilderness setting, wildlife itself as such. “So we can change our focus a says, is construction of more public access sales, 6,623 jobs, $114.2 million in viewing and /trekking, respectively. little bit,” he says. points for sporting on the Saluda. Presently, employment income, $12.3 million Their top two motivations for taking their Buddy Baker, Midlands regional wildlife people often have to cross private property in state sales tax, $4.4 million in state next trip: the scenery and experiencing a coordinator for the S.C. Department of to pursue their canoeing and kayaking income tax and $18 million in federal new place. Natural Resources, sees the same dynamic. fancies, sometimes afoul of income tax.” Until recently, tourism in the state has landowners in the process, Page says. PRT includes bird watching in wildlife Meaning and History been centered on the coast, and only now As it happens, the River Alliance is watching and says that among South are the “natural gems” in the Midlands working on that issue at least to some Yet, for all the market research on Carolinians’ favorite forms of recreation, being discovered, Baker says. “And once degree. ecotourism, the meaning and origins of the bird watching is second only to . [ecotourism] is discovered it’ll probably be The organization aims to build a term are vague. One of the three most popular bird a very profitable industry,” he says. whitewater put-in on the Saluda along the “It’s a hard thing to define I think,” watching destinations in the state: the More generally, Baker says, “There is Greenway near Interstate 26, says Mike Isham says, adding that he sees an Midlands, according to the department. no doubt that ecotourism is a growing Dawson, director of the River Alliance. The overlap between ecotourism and cultural For its part, the S.C. Sierra Club’s local industry.” plan is to have it completed in time for the tourism, which also holds significant but chapters across the state conduct about Others share Driggers’ and Baker’s international competition in 2007, Dawson underutilized potential for the region and 100 outings a year combined, everything perspective on ecotourism in the Midlands. says. state. from hiking and kayaking to bird watching Fran Rametta has been a naturalist at Dawson agrees. “It may be different and visiting historical sites like American Congaree National Park for more than from but not necessarily,” Dollars and Sense Indian burial grounds, Isham says. All trip 25 years. Among other things, Rametta’s he says. leaders must be certified by the club. job entails coordinating and leading “owl That event alone represents the Dictionary.com defines ecotourism Using survey data from consultants, prowls” and other treks at the park. potential of ecotourism in the Midlands as “ to areas of natural or ecological the Washington, D.C.-based International “It is definitely growing,” he says and statewide. Some numbers from the interest, typically under the guidance Ecotourism Society depicts the U.S. of ecotourism. “But I don’t think we’re S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and of a naturalist, for the purpose of ecotourist profile as ages 35 to 54 (divided anywhere near getting the potential Tourism affirm the point: observing wildlife and learning about the evenly between male and female) and visitation that we could have in South • More than 1 million visitors camp in environment.” highly educated (more than 82 percent Carolina.” South Carolina annually, spending a The International Ecotourism Society college graduates). Interest in ecotourism On State Street in Cayce, Giles Page total of at least $82 million. approved the following definition in 1991: among people with less education is “responsible travel to natural areas that manages Adventure Carolina, a retail outlet • When it comes to hiking, and growing, the society says. conserves the environment and improves specializing in recreational gear. Page , PRT says it is indisputable In addition, among “experienced” the well-being of local people.” also is a member of the South Carolina that “the popularity of these activities ecotourists, which the society defines Like Isham, Dawson says he remembers Nature-Based Tourism Association, a trade has grown throughout the 1980s, 1990s organization of some 60 businesses, tourism and now 2000s, and the amount of groups, state parks and other government expenditures on these activities has Ken Driggers, director of the Palmetto entities dedicated to protecting, promoting rapidly increased as well.” Nationwide, Conservation Foundation, on the and enhancing . camping and is a more Palmetto Trail, a 425-mile pathway The association has existed for only than $1.7 billion industry, while apparel being built across South Carolina about 15 years, another indication that for the activities rings up another $259 from the mountains to the sea. ecotourism remains in the infant stages in million in sales annually. The foundation is coordinating the the Midlands and statewide. “There’s a lot construction of the trail. • “Well-managed trails running through Photo by Anne Lewis of potential that’s not being utilized,” Page communities can foster sustainable says. economic activity through business To illustrate the point, he tells a story of development and tourism. Trail users canoeing on the Little River in the need food, lodging, campgrounds, northeastern part of the state a couple of special clothes, shoes and equipment. years ago. During the outing he saw a mink, Many also buy and other and when he told friends about the sighting items during the trip.” Catering to the they were in disbelief, asking how on earth economic needs of trail users creates it could have happened, Page says. clean industries and businesses like His answer: He was navigating the river bed-and-breakfast destinations. And, in virtual silence rather than barreling “Studies related to various trails have along it at 25 knots. “People don’t realize found that they created $300,000 to $1.9 what’s right under their noses,” he says. million in new money for the adjacent One thing that would boost ecotourism Expert-level rapids created when water is released from the were the drawing card in Columbia booking the 2007 Junior Wildwater World Championships. “It’s almost, I can’t get it Photo courtesy of the River Alliance built fast enough.” — Mike Dawson, director of the River Alliance, on the public’s appreciation and use of the Three Rivers Greenway

Tourism, he says, holds the potential In that sense, although the Three Rivers of providing valuable hands-on education Greenway might not produce ecotourism about the environment that otherwise dollars directly, arguably it does so wouldn’t happen. “On the other hand indirectly. tourism also has the potential of destroying The Greenway runs alongside the very things we want to protect in established tourist destinations like nature.” Take off-road four wheeling for EdVenture Children’s Museum, the S.C. example. “That’s not very good ecotourism,” State Museum and Riverbanks Zoo and Isham says, chuckling through the Garden as well as private-sector locations in running across the term ecotourism in the include: understatement. the way of and retail outlets. Likewise, while their party “It’s changed the image of Columbia,” ‘80s, and he tells his own story about it, • “Development of ecotourism should politics might differ from traditional Driggers says of the Greenway, “And it’s an although a much more recent one. be integrated with broader land-use conservationists, many avid hunters and incredible economic development tool.” He says he bumped into a man from planning to avoid destruction of fishers also are ecotourism supporters Says Zunker, “The economic [component Germany at Congaree National Park a ecosystems.” couple of years ago when a new visitors because they are very concerned about the of the Greenway] is that there’s a reason to • “Infrastructure and other development center was opening at the park. The man environment, he says. come downtown.” within natural preserves and told Dawson he was visiting three places in But inescapably, the “eco” part of Driggers contends that the Greenway surrounding areas should be limited to the United States: Disney World, Vicksburg, ecotourism carries another meaning exemplifies the sort of amenities a basic maintenance needs and support Va. (for Civil War sites) and the park. besides the one rooted in the ecosphere community must possess in order to be services.” “He probably knew more about the — economic. a magnet for high-skilled workers in the biosphere there than the average South • “Respect must be given to wildlife Says Driggers, “It’s getting people to new, information-driven economy, a la Carolina resident,” Dawson says. “The migration routes and to the maintenance experience the natural features that we Columbia’s efforts to position itself as a guy said it’s an internationally recognized and restoration of interconnected have, and generating economic activity hydrogen research hub. “If you want to ‘biosphere preserve.’” ecosystem structure and function.” from those visits.” attract those kind of people, you’ve got to The 2002 report “Ecotourism: The code of conduct and principles Principles, Practices & Policies for prove useful in the face of a dubious Congaree National Park in Lower Sustainability” by the U.N. Environment practice by some. Richland is one of South Carolina’s top Programme traces the beginnings of “The term ecotourism is sometimes ecotourism offerings. ecotourism to a rush of research and used as a marketing ploy,” Isham says. Photo by Eric Ward documentaries on coral reefs and rain In conservation circles, such forests in the early ‘80s. The burst of interest disingenuous advertising is known as in those ecosystems spawned a fledgling “green washing.” industry of bird watching, tour guiding and With a few exceptions, the golfing other activities that gradually spread across industry is particularly prone to green the globe and blossomed, according to the washing, Isham says, nothing the high report. levels of water consumption and pesticide Coinciding with the release of the use required to maintain courses. document, and in another sign of the Says the U.N. report, “Many travel newness of ecotourism, the United Nations and tourism businesses have found it declared 2002 the “International Year of convenient to use the term ‘ecotourism’ Ecotourism.” in their literature, and governments have “Ecotourism has been growing rapidly used the term extensively to promote over the last decades,” the U.N. report says. their destinations, all without trying to “Yet, while ecotourism has the potential implement any of the most basic principles to create positive environmental and [of ecotourism]. This problem of ‘green social impacts, it can unfortunately be as washing’ has undermined the legitimacy of damaging as mass tourism if not done the term ecotourism.” properly.” To counteract green washing, Isham says he would like to see the establishment Ethical Conduct of a certification program for ecotourism destinations similar to AAA’s rating system In that regard, the national Sierra for and restaurants. “The fact that Club’s ecotourism policy spells out a simple there are tourism-related businesses who code of conduct: “Take home memories, try to paint themselves green is evidence of photographs when appropriate, and leave the popularity of ecotourism,” he says. only good will.” Isham asserts that tourism should In 1993, the board of the national Sierra be a natural ally of the environmentalist Club adopted an ecotourism policy that community and that sometimes it is, but describes principles of the activity. They sometimes it isn’t. build a community where those people Harrill tells CNN in an August story want to live,” he says. headlined “South rides wave of black Dawson says he doesn’t have any .” definitive numbers on Greenway usage. In another sign of the rising importance Still, he says, “I don’t know who’s coming of black cultural tourism in South Carolina, from where, but they’re sure as heck in October the state Department of coming.” At certain times, if someone stood Archives and History hired a full-time on a rock with a counting clicker at the “heritage coordinator” to identify and West Columbia amphitheater they would document significant sites, structures and see as many as 400 people an hour pass, subcultures that need to be preserved, such Dawson says. as cemeteries. The same is true of the Greenway Among some 1,000 historical markers section at Riverfront Park in Columbia, he in the state, only about 60 are dedicated says. to black sites, according to Archives and In addition, the numbers are increasing, History director Rodger Stroup. Dawson says, adding that seemingly every Moreover, time is of the essence where neighborhood wants to be connected to it. black history is concerned. Because much “It’s almost, I can’t get it built fast enough.” of it prior to the 20th century was not As for cultural tourism, which overlaps written down it is rapidly being lost, Stroup with ecotourism and is driven by similar says. “It’s oral history that’s been passed factors, PRT’s economic impact numbers down.” for it are equally impressive. Among the states, South Carolina In 2001, more than 4 million people ranks 15th in historical tourism, PRT says. visited heritages sites in the Palmetto State, But in a familiar refrain, the agency says, such as historical sites, museums, cultural “Interestingly, despite its historic past and events, festivals and certain national and numerous notable historic attractions, state parks, the department says. “This South Carolina ranks behind all its number includes only visitors who traveled Southern neighbors in attracting historic 50 miles or more one way or overnight, visitors.” which eliminates most local or residential Locally and statewide, the opportunities visitors. They stayed a total of over 17.2 for ecotourism and cultural tourism are million visitor days and spent nearly $883 vast. Nevertheless, it seems clear that they million.” are not being fully realized. Going forward, Also relevant to the region and state, with the appropriate stewardship measures, blacks represent one of the fastest-growing the Midlands and the rest of South demographic groups engaging in cultural Carolina could tap into a resource that at tourism, many in order to connect with once promotes their natural treasures and their history in the former Confederate generates prosperity from them. states of the Southeast. “It’s the second-fastest growing market Let us know what you think: Email news@ segment of tourism,” USC professor Rich free-times.com or [email protected].

This map by the Palmetto Conservation Foundation shows the route by which the Palmetto Trail traverses South Carolina.