when looking to grow a sustainable economy, do you want Seed or Sod? Lake Tahoe tourism strategy has relied on large carbon-loading event menu focused around 2 seasons and 4 main activities to attract people. But really, Tahoe looks better naked. it is much more rewarding to enter the basin like a temple of sacred water waiting and willing to heal, inspire and transform the respectful touch.

1. ENTERTAINMENT . RECREATION . LAKE TAHOE . TRUCKEE

2. West Shore Transit GeoTrack
2013 Tahoe Expo: A showcase of how to use Bus, bike, hike, heritage tour and water shuttle to have a
Fun, Meaning, Low-Carbon adventure on the West Shore!
9:00am – Take TART bus to Assembly Point Transit Center 64 Acres parking - Tahoe City
9:15am - Walk to Olympic Bike Shop for bikes
9:35 am – Guided bike ride to Eagle Rock with occasional stops at locations of interest
10:00am - Hike 1/2 mile up to Eagle Rock for incredible views
10:45pm - Bike to The Tahoe Maritime Museum for a "Roarin' Tahoe 20's" tour
11:30pm Lunch at historic Obexers (local sourced lunch)
12:53pm Water Shuttle with bikes back to Tahoe City Marina
1:30pm - Drop bikes and return to Transit Center

3. www.SustainTahoe.org 775 846-1715 PO 3206 Incline Village, NV 89450
1
Tahoe’s Prosperity Prescription
2008 MOU between National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations and the
Department of the Interior endorsed and committed 10 years of support for all US destinations
to develop and promote geotourism. The 2010 Prosperity Plan, also committed to:
1. Health and Wellness (recreation)
2. Environmental Innovation and Infrastructure (green building /energy)
3. Enhanced Visitor Experience (geotourism)
The Tahoe Expo is a one day tangible experience of a geotourism economy.
Expo participants are spread out over 150 mile watershed to connect people to; native heritage
and culture, wildlife, kayaking thru an eco-system at work, yoga on the water, a rare fish
sanctuary, food grown in a dome, a fossil-free home, fly fishing, and wild mustang
horses…activities motivating longer stays and quicker return visits!.
Now scale this one-day experience of fun, educational and low-carbon guided adventures, to
350 days, with millions of visitors doing activities that sustain or enhance the unique assets of
the region, supporting local wellbeing (jobs!).
ROI that serves long term prosperity, civic pride, and the environment, realized through
innovative collaboration that inspires visitor loyalty to hosts and sponsors.
Or..
Have one commercial entity (maybe local), import talent, to
bring thousands of visitors to a single location, jamming
highways and businesses within 1- 3 miles. Visitors may also
drive around (#1 cause of diminished lake clarity), take
pictures, and seek out other forms of recreation IF any
other menu of options are provided.
The event producer profits + (sort term) labor and those
paid to clean up… Unless the damage created by the event
can only be mitigated thru the ongoing restoration efforts costing tax-payers $1 to $2Billion
every 10 yrs! Long term ROI? Did the visitor learn anything significant at the event or driving
around? Given a minimal understanding of the area, will they only return for another BIG
event? Is a 2 season, auto-dependant menu of terrain-trampling activities providing the 4-
season prosperity we desire and science requires?
Can the Tahoe watershed afford visitors who do not become stewards (at some level)?

4. www.SustainTahoe.org 775 846-1715 PO 3206 Incline Village, NV 89450
2
Sustainable economy: “seed vs. sod”
Elements native to an area do not require costly artificial amenities to maintain, nor do they
degrade water or habitat. Rather, they serve the entire “eco-onomy”.
geotourism is: tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place – its
environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.
The 12 geotourism principles provide clear criteria for tourism experiences used in promoting
their destination. All Tahoe event producers should ask:
1) How does it highlight and interpret local assets that create a ‘sense of place’?
• Does it engage both visitors and hosts in learning about the place?
• Encourage residents to show off the natural and cultural heritage of their communities, so that
tourists gain a richer experience and residents develop pride in their locales?
2) How does it conserve energy and resources critical to long term health and well being?
• Does it encourage activities to sustain natural habitats, heritage sites, aesthetic appeal, and local
culture, and prevent degradation to the site?
3) How does it activate ‘Stewardship’
• Does it increase active enrollment into conservation efforts?
• Does it highlight, support, motivate or reward using alternative transit?
4) Local well being
• How is the community involved? How do they benefit?
• Does the revenue generated cycle in the community 2.5 times?
• Will local expertise welcome and host the visitor (vs. put ‘up with crowds’)
5) Collaboration
• Does it provide critical collaboration between: .gov, .org, .com, so everyone wins?
6) The Story (brand)
• Does it enrich and enlighten the visitors to experience more of our unique diversity?
• Does it support a 4-season high-touch / low-impact brand?
• Does provide insight to other activities that will increase visitor stays, return visits and stories
that inspire more visitors?
• Do the visitors see one watershed of immense diversity vs. separate regions competing against
each other?
4 Steps to becoming a sustainable tourism (geotourism) destination:
1) Identify (geotourism assets throughout the region)
2) Develop (collaborative creation and hosting of geotourism assets= Geotours)
3) Sustain (the new menu of geotourism attractions, activities and adventures)
4) Promote (this as the brand of the region)
This is the mission of Sustainable Tahoe

5. www.SustainTahoe.org 775 846-1715 PO 3206 Incline Village, NV 89450
3
Geotourism (economic development) model
$70 Million hosting Wildlife!
Grizzly Bear hunting in British Columbia generates around $2 to $2.5 million in annual revenue.
This is realized from: tag fees, gas, equipment, guides.
$2.5 Million annual $ revenue to load guns.
however….
Grizzly Bear Photo Safaris generates around $70 million!
People bring their families, stay longer, to eat, sleep and
shop in the community! They book their trip around bear
season, so this is the focal point of their travels!
The $7M annual= guide fees x 10 for the actual benefit that
bear viewing provides to the British Columbia economy!
$70Million annual $ to load cameras!
Grizzly Tours.com does $3M a year in guide revenue (local
jobs!) The additional benefit to the local economy is closer
to $30 million from one guide company!
Reference:
CBVA(Commercial Bear Viewing
Association)
Dean Wyatt
President/Owner
Knight Inlet Grizzly Tours Ltd.
dean@grizzlytours.com
250 203-0353 cell
250 337-1953 office

6. www.SustainTahoe.org 775 846-1715 PO 3206 Incline Village, NV 89450
4
Geotourism (economic development) model
$19.6 Billion hosting Heritage!
Heritage Attracts Travelers Who Spend Money
in Oregon Communities
Mandala Research LLC, shows how Oregon’s cultural heritage
travelers spend nearly 60 percent more per person than they
do nationally.
These travelers contributed an estimated
$19.6 billion to the state’s economy on their most recent trip
to the state over the last 5 years, according to the study’s
findings.
A cultural traveler is defined as “a person who travels to
experience the places, people, activities and things that authentically represent the past and
present, including cultural, historic and natural resources.” This means they visit historic sites,
arts venues, state and national parks, ocean beaches and other places also enjoyed by
Oregonian.
The report concludes the importance for Oregon to capture the past sense of place, and to
weave this iconic place into the present and future.
$1.9 billion
Amount of dollars spent by heritage travelers on their most recent visit to
Oregon
83%
Percentage of leisure travelers in Oregon who consider themselves culture
and heritage travelers
$47.5 million
Number of people who are cultural and heritage travelers within Oregon
and its feeder markets
$1,618
Average dollars spent by a cultural heritage traveler on a leisure trip to
Oregon. This is nearly 60% higher than the amount spent nationally
45%
Percentage of Oregonians who spend more on cultural heritage activities
while they are visiting
39%
Percentage of travelers willing to pay more for lodging that reflects the
cultural and heritage destination they are visiting
1,200 Number of cultural heritage organizations in Oregon

7. www.SustainTahoe.org 775 846-1715 PO 3206 Incline Village, NV 89450
5
Geotour / GeoTrack (prosperity recipe)
Geotour = Fun, Meaningful, Low-Carbon life-changing adventure
Visitors…life changing adventures - more reasons to visit!
"My husband and I really enjoyed the guides and all that we learned about the
area. We are already thinking about taking our canoe down the river either this fall
or in higher water in the spring to further explore the area." Sandy & Gus Hall
Non-Profit / .Org: Local experts guide Geotours to enrich understanding
Agencies/ .Gov: provide grants & access to sensitive and remote areas
Business/.Com: sponsor + ‘eat, sleep, shop’, gear & transit (reduced VMT’s )
.COM…realize a four season prosperity!
“We learned about the catch and release program in the Tahoe Basin. Also the
fundamentals of fly fishing. I had a fly rod and reel and now my wife is hooked –
we’ll be back!”
.ORG… enroll new champions, supporters and members!
“Two of the seven people who participated in the Pipe Cruise have joined Pipe
Keepers with the League and are now helping to collect important information on
storm water that is draining into Lake Tahoe!” Jesse Patterson, Geotour guide
from League to Save Lake Tahoe
.GOV… increase civic pride and tax saving environmental compliance!
“The Geotour opened our eyes to birds we never encountered before and bear
tracks we would never have spotted on our own, and it made us aware of the
nature and importance of conservation efforts.” Jens and Jenny Happe, New
Westminster, B.C.
TriNomics™ collaborative model

8. www.SustainTahoe.org 775 846-1715 PO 3206 Incline Village, NV 89450
6
Key: Region-wide Collaboration