Responsible Tourism

Visit Durango is committed to our role as a Destination Management and Marketing Organization (DMMO).

Responsible Tourism is an approach to tourism that seeks to make a positive impact on the societies and environments where tourism takes place. It is founded on the principles of:

• social 
• economic
• environmental sustainability.

The goal of Responsible Tourism is to create a more sustainable and equitable industry, one that provides benefits to local communities and minimizes environmental impacts. This includes working to ensure that tourism generates good jobs, supports local businesses, conserves natural resources, and improves social welfare.

To achieve these goals, Responsible Tourism advocates for practices such as investing in community-based projects and organizing training programs for local residents.

What is Responsible Tourism?

At its simplest, Responsible Tourism can be defined as "tourism that creates better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit."

However, there is no single definition of Responsible Tourism, and the concept has been interpreted in many ways. As the field of Responsible Tourism has developed, a number of different frames and approaches have emerged.

The following are some of the key elements that are often included in definitions of Responsible Tourism:

• Creating positive experiences for visitors
• Enhancing economic opportunities for local communities
• Conserving natural and cultural heritage
• Improving social welfare
• Respecting human rights
• Addressing negative impacts of tourism

Our Partnerships

La Plata County supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community. We learn by asking questions, and we support each other without judgment.

We believe in respect for everyone. We partner with community members to promote social and environmental education.

How We Contribute to La Plata County

Visit Durango is here to promote tourism in order to benefit the community we serve. Along with our partnerships, Visit Durango prioritized education and mitigating the tourism impact through destination management. Our team provides sustainable tourism management to support our residents and economy.  Part of our job at Visit Durango is to protect our environment and La Plata Country's Culture through our expertise and volunteer hours. 

Our Transparency

La Plata County is an authentic and casual community, and we aim to reflect that vibe. We strive to be open and honest with the public regarding our environmental and social policies. We also value honesty in our environmental and social performance. 

How We "Bring the Heart"

We are in the hospitality business and are here to serve our locals, community, visitors, and other stakeholders. Working together with residents, and other partners we aim to make all of our decisions inclusive and equitable, and we extend this philosophy to projects in order to make La Plata County a desirable place to live, work and visit.