Asheville Citizen-Times
Elected officials, business people and others working to sustain or grow tourism in the 25-county Western North Carolina region must work together to protect the natural beauty that draws tourists to the area.

“Individual policy makers need to understand that if they want tourism, they need to protect the product,” said Mike Evans, a professor in the Walker College of Business’ Department of Management at Appalachian State University. “Sustainable tourism such as ecotourism and cultural/heritage tourism is what brings people to the area.” Read full story