Tourism is a major driver in Virginia’s economy and ecotourism is especially important in coastal Virginia. Ecotourism connects people to the natural resources that the Virginia CZM Program is striving to protect and hopefully instills in them a strong will to take care of these life-sustaining resources.

Ecotourism Accomplishments 

In October 2017, the Virginia CZM Program began a three-year funding effort to focus on promotion of ecotourism focused on the following:

Marketing Ecotourism in Rural Coastal Virginia

Three rural coastal planning districts: Accomack-Northampton (Eastern Shore), Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck are using their Virginia CZM grant funds to promote ecotourism in their regions – especially for trails.  

Learn more.

Expanding Ecotour Guide Certification Classes

In January 14, 2020, the Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission (A-N PDC) hosted online classes on ecosystem science, customer service, business marketing, interpretive skills, natural history and culture.  Virginia CZM began funding these classes back in the 1990s, but their popularity has blossomed over the past few years.  

Learn more.

Installing Interpretive Signage on Virginia's Eastern Shore

With funding and staff support from Virginia CZM, A-N PDC and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) installed new interpretive signs on both the Bayside and Seaside of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.  

Learn more.