“Boomers” Boost WA Wildlife Tourism Income
Chris Thomas, News Director
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Crystal Mountain, WA - The "Call of the Wild" beckons more and more Washingtonians every year. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says we spend $1.5 billion a year on wildlife tourism in the state, an increase of 51 percent in the past five years. While the outdoor business is booming, Mike O'Malley with the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department explains our outdoor experiences are also becoming somewhat more "civilized."
"People who used to climb Mt. Rainier, now want to look at it and then have a glass of wine in a local vineyard. The times are changing, and it's driven primarily because the Baby Boomers are in their 50s and 60s."
O'Malley says the business boost is prompting more towns to take their natural resources seriously.
"When local communities see wildlife as an economic asset, they're much more likely to protect it and its habitat."
Today, state wildlife and tourism officials are meeting at the Crystal Mountain ski area with community leaders, tour operators and conservationists from around the state. They're brainstorming ways to encourage people to spend more time outdoors and to help communities preserve their wildlife habitat.
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