The Town of Taos, in collaboration with the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies (GW), has developed a Destination Stewardship Plan (DSP) to promote responsible tourism practices that preserve and celebrate Taos' natural and cultural heritage. Karina Armijo, the Tourism and Marketing Director for the Town of Taos, welcomes the partnership and emphasizes the community-led approach in shaping the region's tourism future, according to a recent press release by the Town of Taos.
“The Town of Taos welcomes a partnership with CREST and GW to help guide us through a community-led approach in defining the future of tourism for our region," Karina Armijo, tourism and marketing director for the Town of Taos, said in the release.
The collaborative year-long Destination Stewardship Plan project between the Town of Taos, CREST and GW aims to devise strategies and initiatives that promote sustainable tourism practices in the region, ensuring that tourism brings benefits to the local community while respecting cultural and natural resources and upholding shared values, according to the release. The planning process will draw upon previous initiatives like Strong at Heart, the 2022 Town of Taos Comp Plan and the New Mexico Department of Outdoor Recreation's Uplift Plan to foster collaboration and alignment among residents, local governments, tourism industry stakeholders, enterprise leaders, nonprofit organizations, public land managers, the workforce and neighboring communities, according to the press release by the Town of Taos.
“CREST and the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies are committed to working with the Town of Taos to develop a destination stewardship plan that reflects the unique natural, cultural, and spiritual elements of the place,” Wesley Espinosa, Interim Executive Director of CREST, said in the release. “We believe that this project will serve as a model for other communities looking to develop sustainable tourism practices.”
According to the release, Seleni Matus, Executive Director of The George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies, expressed the institute's excitement over the partnership.
“We are delighted to partner with CREST and bring our destination stewardship planning experience to the Town of Taos – a significant and popular destination making a renewed commitment to community engagement and long-term sustainability," Matus said in the release.
