Renowned ecotourism expert A new report has been released They conclude that Alabama's 23-county Black Belt region has everything it takes to be a premier ecotourism destination.

Defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that protects nature and sustains the well-being of local people”, ecotourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry.

The report, conducted by Costas Crist & Associates in partnership with Beyond Green Travel and the University of Alabama's Economic Development Center, recommends that tourism in the Black Belt should focus on three main pillars: nature, culture and community.

Crist is a former editor and senior director of sustainability at National Geographic and is recognized as one of the world's leading travel experts.

“With a focus on nature conservation, preserving cultural and historic sites, and engaging local communities, the Black Belt can become a major ecotourism destination,” Crist said. “The Black Belt is a diamond in the rough; it just needs to be polished.”

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Crist and his team spent a year touring the Black Belt region, studying the region's current and potential tourism assets, and the report is the result of hundreds of meetings with business owners, elected officials, civil rights leaders, and community-based tourism organizations.

They actually prepared a similar report with similar strategies for Mobile and Baldwin counties in 2022, which were then funded and implemented.

“What we've done on Alabama's Gulf Coast has been successful, and there's no reason to think we can't enjoy similar success in Alabama's Black Belt,” said Wiley Blankenship, president and CEO of the Coastal Alabama Partnership. “These regions complement each other well and can provide visitors with unique, memorable and authentic travel experiences based on best practices.”

According to Crist, millennial and Gen Z tourists are looking for travel that benefits local people and helps preserve natural and cultural heritage, which gives the Black Belt a great foundation for Selma as a regional tourism hub.

“The Black Belt offers world-class recreational hunting grounds“The Black Belt is home to numerous outdoor activities, including fishing, bird watching, camping and hiking,” said Thomas Harris, ALBBAA founder and president of the organization. “It also has world-renowned cultural events and festivals and numerous historic sites. This ecotourism report highlights the region's great potential to attract visitors to the Black Belt and make it a nationally and internationally recognized sustainable tourism destination.”

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Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Director Chris Blankenship said he is excited about the area's present and future.

“This is a good road map for making the most of the beautiful places and people God has given us in Alabama,” Blankenship said.

“The opportunity to connect the good things happening in coastal Alabama from the Black Belt to Selma and Montgomery is wonderful. As a member of the Alabama Black Belt Adventurers Board, Forever Wild Board, Alabama Historical Commission, Innovate Alabama Outdoor Recreation Council and Alabama State Parks Foundation, and as Secretary of the Department of Conservation, it's great to see these organizations and others working together to promote and enhance ecotourism and outdoor recreation in this sometimes underrepresented part of the state.”

The Black Belt includes 23 counties: Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clark, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox.