A Shared Promise: Inviting Visitors to Help Us Steward Our Natural & Cultural Landscapes

What does it take to get travelers to invest emotionally in a place— where being a “responsible guest” feels like insider access and naturally the thing to do? This session breaks down Look Out for ME, Maine’s visitor education initiative rooted in Leave No Trace principles and taking care of yourself, while going beyond just nature to being respectful of the culture, communities, people and working landscapes as well – the things that make Maine (or a place?) special. Learn about the evolution of the initiative, outreach to key partners and stakeholders and early campaign successes.

Takeaways:

• Develop a pre-arrival digital and social strategy that educates visitors early, aligning expectations, protecting local assets and reinforcing long-term destination stewardship.
• Strengthen cross-agency and partner collaboration to avoid duplication, amplify aligned initiatives to deliver clear, cohesive sustainability messaging.
• Develop communications plan to engage industry stakeholders. 
• Leverage PR and paid media to extend reach and drive measurable results.