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 Your Itinerary Planner

Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

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Naturally Devon / Green Tourism / Keeping Devon Special - Sustainable Tourism in Devon

Keeping Devon Special - Sustainable Tourism in Devon

We understand that the key appeal of Devon is its environment. In practical terms we know that if we do not conserve and enhance this asset then it will disappear - eventually - and so will the desire to visit or stay.

What is sustainable tourism?

Sustainable tourism can generally be described as tourism that makes a low or neutral impact on the environment and local culture, while at the same time helping to generate income and employment for the local community. It is tourism that meets the needs of tourists and communities today while protecting and enhancing the environment for the future.

Why tourism in Devon needs to be sustainable

Devon is undoubtedly one of the UK's most beautiful counties, endowed with a wealth of outstanding natural and historic assets, such as 2 coastlines, 2 national parks, 5 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 2 World Heritage Sites, 270 historic conservation areas and 19,000 listed buildings. When excellent local food, high quality accommodation and welcoming generous hospitality are added in, it's unsurprising that tourism is one of Devon's main industries. It generates £2bn a year in visitor- related spend and employs around 63,000 people.

Tourism is certainly vital to Devon's economy, but it does have its environmental and social disadvantages. Most visitors come to Devon in the summer and as a result businesses struggle in off-peak periods, jobs are low-paid and unstable, and communities suffer. The volume of visitors and traffic take their toll on the environment and irresponsible visitors are a problem for protected landscapes.

Discover Devon Naturally

We are committed to making Devon "England's Greenest County", and the Discover Devon Naturally project exists to ensure tourism benefits local communities by boosting the economy, increasing off-peak tourism and protecting Devon's heritage and culture. It enhances and protects the environment by working with businesses and tourists alike to ensure Devon's natural assets are protected for future generations.