Energy & Environment
| More

Officer Eco-Friendly: Wisconsin Will Certify Green Tourist Sites

BY: | July 2007



With its 15,000 lakes, 25,000 miles of waterways and many geological wonders, Wisconsin is working to promote eco-friendly tourism by creating "Travel Green Wisconsin," a business certification program.

The state will certify environmentally sound tourism outlets--hotels, shops, restaurants and other attractions. The idea is to capitalize on the growing number of travelers who seek to vacation amidst facilities that are sensitive to environmentally sustainable practices. The Department of Tourism wants to "make sure it markets itself as the domestic sustainable destination in the United States," says Will Christianson, the program's outreach coordinator.

To be certified, businesses submit an application that describes the work they are doing to improve or maintain high quality in such areas as waste reduction, energy efficiency and water conservation. The department hopes to find grant programs to help the businesses defray the higher costs of being environmentally friendly.

Business will be asked to pay an annual fee to gain certification, but there are no stipulations or funding for periodic check-ups to make sure that businesses maintain their environmental commitments. The tourism department doesn't see that as a problem. Communities that are trying to make a name for themselves through sustainability are likely to police local businesses to assure that the community "product" reflects the community's reputation, Christianson says. In addition, when travelers seeking out eco-friendly businesses find they are dealing with something different from what was promised, they alert the state.

"Travel Green Wisconsin," which has certified 21 businesses so far, is being piloted in four Wisconsin regions, with a goal of going statewide by 2007.


If you enjoyed this post, subscribe for updates.

Heather Kerrigan
Heather Kerrigan

Heather Kerrigan is a GOVERNING contributor. She pens the monthly Public Workforce column and contributes to the print magazine.

E-mail: kerrigan.h@gmail.com
Twitter: @governing

Comments



Add Your Comment

You are solely responsible for the content of your comments. GOVERNING reserves the right to remove comments that are considered profane, vulgar, obscene, factually inaccurate, off-topic, or considered a personal attack.

Comments must be fewer than 2000 characters.

Latest from Energy & Environment

  • Tracking the Carbon Footprints of Cities
  • Scientists have found that urban hubs with over 10 million people are increasingly responsible for human-caused global warming, prompting closer study of cities across the country and around the globe.
  • Oregon Coal Export Terminal Plans Put on Hold
  • The battle over plans for a series of massive coal export terminals across the Pacific Northwest took a new turn Wednesday when the energy company Kinder Morgan announced it was dropping its plan to build a $200-million facility on the Columbia River in northern Oregon.

More From Energy & Environment

GOVERNING Data

Events & Webinars

  • Putting Crooks on Notice: How you can fight Identity Fraud
  • October 24, 2013
  • Fraud is on the rise. There is evidence that fraud has permeated virtually every government-based benefit program at the state, local and federal level. The federal government estimates that three to five percent of public assistance dollars are lost each year to fraud, and tax related identity fraud has grown 650% since 2008.


More Events & Webinars


© 2011 e.Republic, Inc. All Rights reserved.    |   Privacy Policy   |   Site Map