What does responsible travel look like in action? Key lessons from Alaska’s USTOA Sustainability Summit and how Backroads is advancing responsible travel through conservation, community partnerships and sustainable tourism practices.
In June, I had the opportunity to represent Backroads at the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) Sustainability is Responsibility Summit in Anchorage, Alaska.
The annual summit brought together tour operators, destination partners, conservation organizations and travel industry leaders to explore some of the biggest opportunities and challenges facing tourism today. Hosted in partnership with Visit Anchorage, our niche crew of around 30 sustainable travel specialists discussed a wide range of topics including climate risk, community impact and overtourism, all while surrounded by the glorious Chugach Mountains.
Before diving into the learnings, I want to extend a sincere thank you to USTOA, Visit Anchorage and the many local organizations and community leaders who generously shared their time, expertise and perspectives throughout the week. Their willingness to engage in honest conversations about tourism’s impacts and opportunities made the experience incredibly valuable.
Sustainability Is a Collective Effort
One theme emerged again and again over the course of the summit: We are not competing on sustainability.
Across every session, workshop and conversation, there was a shared belief that the travel industry can move farther and faster when we work together. As the Senior Impact Specialist at Backroads—someone who spends a lot of time in the minutiae of this work each day—I was so inspired by the people sitting around the campfire in Chugach State Park, roasting marshmallows and sharing openly about lessons learned and successes achieved in their ongoing sustainability journeys.
It was also a meaningful reminder that responsible travel is not a separate lane from the guest experience. At Backroads, our impact strategy is rooted in activating our community through responsible travel, which means recognizing that our people, the places we travel and the communities that welcome us are all deeply connected. That idea came up often throughout the summit.
Alaska as a Living Classroom
There may be few places better suited for conversations about responsible travel than Alaska. Throughout the week, local experts, conservation leaders, Indigenous organizations, tourism professionals and community advocates shared how tourism intersects with economic opportunity, cultural preservation, conservation and community well-being across the state.
And these discussions weren’t just theoretical. We were able to experience many of these topics firsthand through site visits and immersive learning opportunities across the Anchorage region.
Where Conservation, Community and Tourism Meet
One stop was the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which Backroads guests visit on our Alaska trips. At the center, we learned about the role conservation organizations play in protecting Alaska’s iconic wildlife. The conversations reinforced the idea that healthy ecosystems, thriving wildlife populations and protected public lands aren’t just environmental priorities; they are essential to the visitor experiences that draw travelers to places like Alaska in the first place.
We also heard inspiring examples of how tourism can support conservation efforts from Nicole Schmitt of Alaska Wildlife Alliance and Elizabeth Dubovsky of Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. The panel leaned into ideas like funding wildlife protection initiatives, supporting science-based initiatives and creating opportunities for visitors to participate in stewardship efforts.
The connection between travel and stewardship is core to our work at Backroads. In 2025, we launched the Give Back Program to give our Trip Leaders a clearer structure to support the places where they live, work and travel through community service and donations. The program supports projects at the intersection of environmental action and active travel, including public lands protection, trail stewardship and community-led conservation. In our inaugural year, we received over 50 proposals for projects across more than 40 different travel destinations—with a multi-day trail restoration event in Kachemak Bay in Southeast Alaska as a highlight.
Connecting Travelers with Living Cultures
We were also treated to a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, yet another partner featured on Backroads’ Alaska itineraries. Through a guided site tour, cultural demonstrations and conversations with community leaders, we learned about the importance of cultural tourism that is led by and benefits local communities.
I was especially inspired by the center’s commitment to youth engagement. Through internship and educational programs, young people have opportunities to learn, preserve and share their cultural heritage while developing professional skills and leadership experience.
Value Beyond the Guest Experience
Programs like these remind us that tourism can do more than create memorable visitor experiences. When thoughtfully designed, it can also support cultural preservation, economic opportunity and community resilience.
This is something we continue to build into our work at Backroads. Our trips depend on relationships with local guides, cultural centers, family-owned businesses, conservation organizations and community partners who help guests understand a place more deeply. Increasingly, we are also looking at how our vendor relationships, itinerary design and Give Back investments can better support community-led priorities.
One example from our Give Back Program is our support of the Tancook Island Recreation Centre in Nova Scotia, a volunteer-run community hub on an island that Backroads guests visit. As the island prepares for increased tourism, Backroads’ support is helping to fund facility upgrades, community events and youth programming led by and for local residents. It is a small but meaningful example of the kind of community resilience we heard about throughout the summit.
Local Connections, Enriched Experiences
The final day of the summit included an unforgettable excursion through Prince William Sound with a locally owned boat tour company in Whittier, an experience that Backroads guests also enjoy on select Alaska itineraries.
Operated by three sisters, the experience showcased another theme that surfaced repeatedly throughout the summit: the value of supporting locally owned businesses and community-based tourism.
We know that local knowledge, thoughtful guiding, regional food and small businesses are often what make a trip feel truly memorable. The summit reinforced that these choices are not just good for guests; they are part of how travel can create broader value.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Responsible Travel
One of the most encouraging aspects of the summit was seeing how many of the ideas being discussed already aligned with Backroads’ long-standing values. I mean, three out of three excursions for the summit are already included in our itineraries!
Of course, there is so much more to learn. The travel industry continues to evolve, and challenges such as climate risk, destination management and environmental impact require ongoing collaboration and innovation.
But I left Alaska feeling optimistic. Optimistic because of the people working across our industry to tackle these challenges together. Optimistic because destinations like Alaska are demonstrating what thoughtful tourism can look like in practice. And optimistic because every year, I see more examples of travelers, communities and tourism businesses working toward a shared vision of responsible travel.
