MOUNT TREMPER – Ulster County released its County Sustainable Tourism Plan on Wednesday at the Catskill Visitor Center.
For the past year, the plan has been developed to help guide how tourism can support local economies and the area’s natural landscape, while minimizing its impacts.
Nina Boys, vice president of sustainability for Beyond Green, the consultant that worked on the tourism plan, said they found a mixed perception of tourism in Ulster.
“We spoke with and interviewed and surveyed residents, business owners, land managers, visitors and residents, and we found that was a mixed understanding of how tourism affects and benefits their lives,” she said.
During the survey, the chief challenges posed by tourism included traffic and parking, housing affordability and the pressure created by short-term rentals. Crowding of natural areas, community spaces and environment impacts were also issues created by tourism.
Tourism generated $1.12 billion in direct spending in Ulster County in 2024. Gen. Z and Millennials are part of the future of tourism, and they found they care about the impact of the communities they are visiting, and that sustainability is important when traveling as tourists.
“So, while many people see the benefits of tourism, depending on where they live and who they are,” said Boys, “many people also experience the impacts and effects of tourism differently.”
The study found that tourism in the county is better served by connecting visitors with more of the county, making it easier to travel well and to manage and protect high-use areas.
In the short term, the study recommends the county create a stewardship group of community, transportation and tourism partners and assess the purpose, governance and funding sources for a tourism stewardship and resilience fund.
Comments