About This Program

It goes contrary to conventional thinking, but the new watch phrase in tourism is "If you DON'T build it, they will come". Prairie Public Television's newest documentary EcoTourism premiered Thursday, September 17, at 9 p.m. (CT) and examined what North Dakota is doing to attract it share of the 80 million travelers who will hit the road this year looking for a new kind of vacation adventure.

Nature-based tourism, also called eco-tourism, is the fastest growing kind of travel in the country. During the making of EcoTourism program producer Kim Stenehjem traveled the state to talk with the people who are on the front line of the new wave tourism industry.

"North Dakota's in a great position to take advantage of this growing trend," said Stenehjem. "We have the raw ingredients ­ wide open skies, clean air, friendly people, beautiful scenery and lots of history and heritage to explore. But we need to change the way we think about tourism and help create the kind of experiences nature tourists looking for. That's what this program is meant to do -- encourage people to look at our state as a beautiful destination and be open to new ideas that capitalize on these new opportunities."

Although nationally the number one vacation activity is shopping, travelers in North Dakota are interested in outdoor recreational opportunities. Bird and wildlife viewing is the most popular activity. According to a study by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, other popular outdoor activities include hiking and backpacking, bicycling, horseback riding, canoeing and boating, photography.

The second most popular activity among nature tourists is viewing and photographing scenery and wildlife. But according to BirdWatcher's Digest editor Bill Thompson III, it takes more than just wildlife to make a tourist come back. "People think it's about the birds and it is, but it's really the whole package." Thompson said "It's really about -- do you make the birders feel welcome."

EcoTourism features the beauty of the North Dakota countryside and interviews with business owners, entrepreneurs, tourism officials, and tourists about the opportunities nature tourism is creating in rural areas. The documentary showcases nature-based tourism enterprises that are drawing in a whole new kind of traveler.