COMMUNITY PROSPERITY
DISTRIBUTING TOURISM FUNDS TO INDIGENOUS NEIGHBORS
BEND, OREGON, UNITED STATES
On your next road trip, remember that you can make a difference in every place you pass. Support local businesses and respect each community you drive through, as Visit Bend does on behalf of its visitors.
What's
changing
When you drive to a destination, your trip does not take place only in your final destination. When you stop along the way to explore, take photos or grab food, you play a role in the health of that environment and community. As some final destinations grow more popular, they seek ways to share the wealth with the places that visitors used en route.
What's already
possible
Bend, Oregon, which is south of the Warm Springs reservation, has exploded in popularity in recent years. To mitigate the environmental impacts of roadtrippers on their way to Bend, the city contributes some of its sustainability fund to Warm Springs, though it is more than an hour outside Bend.
Seizing
the opportunity
Visitors driving to Bend from urban areas in the Pacific Northwest almost always pass through lands managed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The tribes do not directly benefit from visitors’ spending at restaurants, hotels and attractions in Bend. However, that tourism-related revenue does support Visit Bend’s sustainability fund, which grants money for regenerative projects across the region, including in Warm Springs.
Standout
tactic
One of the grants issued to Warm Springs Community Action Team aids in the construction of a pavilion and the restoration of a historic commissary. When completed, the area will provide space for small businesses and restaurants that offer employment and attract visitors to spend their money in Warm Springs.
How
it helps
Visit Bend’s sustainability fund has distributed more than 500,000 U.S. dollars for two projects in Warm Springs as of August 2024.
Diving
deeper
Could the allocation of sustainability funds be seen as an attempt to redress imbalances created by tourism without meaningful involvement of affected communities, and what steps could be taken to ensure more integrative collaboration?
Increasing
impact
To help further mitigate negative effects on land managed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Bend could use its influence to teach travelers how to better support the needs of the areas they are crossing.
Traveling
better
Travel is inherently carbon intensive. Whether you are taking a mini-break or an annual vacation, consider ways to minimize your impact by staying longer in one place, reconsidering how you travel to the destination, and supporting businesses that are working to make their community and the world a better place.
