Langley's team approach tackles tourism

“The Langley Chamber of Commerce is supported through grants that are specific to tourism,” notes Nicole Whittington-Johnson, the Chamber’s executive director. Additionally, there is Langley Creates, a state-designated creative district, part of a Washington state program that helps communities turn their cultural and historical assets into economic growth, a non-profit created by the Langley Chamber of Commerce. Plus, there is the Langley Main Street Association championing the downtown’s economic revitalization and historic preservation.

“The Murder Mystery weekend in February is one of the top festivals. People come from all over the world – three thousand people attended this year. It started in 1984 and has grown ever since. People love how merchants are characters that wear multiple hats – checking their point of sales, then putting on another hat!” said Whittington-Johnson.

The city’s events list includes a Whale Festival in March – a pod of gray whales show up every year – a parade in April and a parade on July Fourth with an hour of floats, marching bands, even marching violins.

A town tradition since the 1970s in August and September is the Soup Box Derby – not “soap” box. People from 9 to 99 build soup-box cars and risk barreling down the First Street hill.

Island organic farms draw tourists throughout the summer.

The creative district is developing an outdoor museum and arts corridor to bridge the downtown with the community center. “We are right on track for it to be a strong year,” said Whittington-Johnson.

Inga Morascini, public relations and marketing director for Whidbey and Camano Islands Tourism and the county’s tourism leadership team recognized that just sustainability in tourism was enough. They decided to consult with Regenerative Travel Council, a consulting firm specializing in regenerative tourism.

After a year of analysis to learn what the island culture was and what produced the best tourists – defined as people who cared about the environment – they decided to target that market while at the same time insuring locals would continue to live there comfortably.

Regenerative tourism, like regenerative agriculture, uses a holistic approach to create conditions that will continuously renew and lower carbon emissions for entire environmental and ecological systems. That’s a tall order.

Morascini said they were tailoring their tourism towards people who want to get out of doors; gain knowledge of local history; of the culinary, cultural and agricultural aspects of the region; pursue experiences such as mushroom hunting, farm visits and organic farming – all leaning heavily on experience rather than just driving up and down the island.

Regenerative tourism defines success as net benefit – added value, not volume. It is a holistic approach to the well-being of the entire ecosystem.

“We want tourism to add to our environment, not take away from it – a much better approach,” concluded Morascini.

We’re watching.