APPRECIATE AZ? JOIN US IN LEAVE NO TRACE

THE ARIZONA OFFICE of Tourism (AOT) launched a new campaign titled Appreciate AZ in partnership with Leave No Trace that focuses on preserving Arizona’s landscapes.

This partnership promotes sustainable tourism practices across Arizona’s breathtaking landscapes and unique destinations. The partnership ensures visitors and residents are equipped with the Leave No Trace knowledge and skills to protect Arizona’s iconic natural features while enjoying spectacular destinations like Yuma. Together we can make an impact and protect nature from impacts like overuse, harming wildlife, and trash. The locations featured in the campaign are all spots we know Arizonans love to visit, so we’re providing information on how to visit responsibly to protect its beauty.

Appreciate AZ is Arizona’s brand for responsible tourism. This program ensures we are doing our part to educate visitors and residents on how to recreate responsibly in Arizona and to keep our state beautiful for this and future generations (Arizona Office of Tourism, 2021). The AOT website offers amazing resources for residents, businesses, and visitors; they offer the Appreciate AZ Toolkit, Social Media Assets, brochures, posters, and a sticker request form as resources.

Additionally, the AOT website provides Appreciate AZ Digital Courses for industry partners, visitor centers, and consumers. These courses were developed by

AOT, in collaboration with Leave No Trace, to help educate anyone on responsible and sustainable tourism in Arizona. Once completed you will become certified in the Appreciate AZ program.

If you are a member of the Arizona hospitality or retail industry, you play a crucial role to help promote Appreciate AZ with visitors who are likely unaware of the impacts that can result from outdoor recreation. By protecting Arizona’s outdoors with education, you are helping to ensure that Arizona’s thriving tourism and recreation economy continues to grow for years to come.

If you are a consumer, AOT recommends that you take the Consumer Online Courses on their website. This will help you become familiar with Appreciate AZ initiatives, as well as learn valuable information on how to preserve the outdoor places we all love. Arizonans are lucky to have some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world in their very own backyard. This campaign, and the seven principles, are to help us preserve these places.

The seven Leave No Trace principles are everything from planning ahead and respecting wildlife to fire safety and sharing the outdoors. The seven principles are:

● Plan ahead and prepare – Arizona is more than just a desert and offers diverse terrain and temperatures. Safely planning ahead means you’ll be able to experience all Arizona has to offer safely.

● Stick to trails – When you minimize your impact, you protect plants, animals, and yourself.

● Trash your trash – When it comes to trash and waste, pack it in and pack it out.

● Leave what you find – Take pictures and make memories but please don’t take mementos or leave a mark.

● Be careful with fires – Use only designated fire pits, keep campfires small, and don’t leave them unattended. Arizona’s dry climate is perfect to catch ablaze if fires are not maintained properly.

● Respect Wildlife – Arizona’s great outdoors is home to more than 800 species of wildlife. Observe them from a distance, and be prepared to stop and the wildlife stays wild.

● Share the outdoors – Arizona’s landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for reflection. Respect others and their unique connection to the land. Let’s all enjoy nature together!

Appreciate AZ highlights Arizona-specific guidelines, such as protecting petroglyphs found throughout the state and respecting our iconic cacti. The places featured in the campaign are all spots we know Arizonans love to visit, so Appreciate AZ is providing information on how to do so responsibly to protect its beauty.

The Arizona Office of Tourism has also partnered with Arizona State Parks & Trails, Arizona State Lands, Arizona Game & Fish Department, and Arizona Department of Transportation to expand the Appreciate AZ message and promote responsible tourism and recreation messages across Arizona.

People form lasting connections with nature when they understand how to protect it. To learn more about how you can leave no trace when exploring Arizona’s outdoors, visit AppreciateAZ.com.