News
Carmel-by-the-Sea Asks Visitors to "Love Carmel Like a Local"
Expanded stewardship initiative promotes safe, responsible and respectful travel
Visit Carmel, the destination marketing organization for Carmel-by-the-Sea, is committed to promoting responsible tourism with a more extensive stewardship initiative, which launches today. Visitors (and locals) who arrive in Carmel will notice new signage strategically placed around the village as well as bright banners along Ocean Avenue, the main boulevard through town. Visit Carmel is encouraging guests to visit with respect and Love Carmel Like A Local.
The initiative is being communicated to the public and locals through web content, a dedicated video, and robust social media support, all focused on a community-first approach to marketing the destination. The Love Carmel program includes educating visitors on the ways they can make a difference, highlighting "Know Before You Go" information and "Voluntourism" opportunities. Ultimately, custom swag will be available for purchase with proceeds to go toward specific beautification projects.
"In taking a holistic approach to destination marketing, our collective goal is to influence visitor behavior and ensure tourism is a benefit to the community and environment," said Amy Herzog, Executive Director of Visit Carmel. "We do this by creating unified messaging that encourages visitors to explore and enjoy, but also cherish and respect our destination."
A local task force comprised of community leaders, residents, and destination stewards collaborated on the "Love Carmel" vision. It emphasizes treating the village and beach with respect from an environmental and sustainability standpoint but also carries a more heartfelt message about being mindful and to cherish the natural beauty and community culture. The reference to "Locals" recognizes the residents who care for our Village. It also reminds visitors that, while Carmel-by-the-Sea is a world-class destination, people live, work, raise families and retire here and that, while Carmel-by-the-Sea is a world-class destination, it is a community first.
"One beautiful trend emerging in tourism is that more and more travelers understand the obligation to visit responsibly, and many even prefer destinations that encourage it," continued Herzog. "We will harness this awareness and continue to champion tourism's benefits, mitigate its impacts, and collaborate with our tourism partners in the county and state to promote respectful and responsible visitation."
Find out more about the Love Carmel Like A Local initiative on Visit Carmel's website.
