Bill Text: NJ AR201 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges PANYNJ to promote local ecotourism destinations at its international airports.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [AR201 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR201-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman SAMUEL L. FIOCCHI
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
Assemblyman CHRIS A. BROWN
District 2 (Atlantic)
SYNOPSIS
Urges PANYNJ to promote local ecotourism destinations at its international airports.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to allocate an area in each of its international airports for the promotion of local ecotourism destinations.
Whereas, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) operates five international airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Stewart International Airport, and Atlantic City International Airport; and
Whereas, In 2013, a combined 113,619,216 passengers traveled domestically and internationally using these five airports; and
Whereas, In 2013, the State of New Jersey's tourism industry generated $35.9 billion or 6.9 percent of the State's economy; and
Whereas, Atlantic, Cape May, and Ocean counties were the top three counties in tourism direct sales, accounting for $17 billion; and
Whereas, In 2006, the Center for Regional Business Research at Atlantic Cape Community College calculated that ecotourism was a $522 million industry in Cape May and Cumberland counties; and
Whereas, Ecotourism is the practice of traveling to and enjoying, a beautiful natural place in a way that does not damage the environment; and
Whereas, Ecotourism is a travel activity that provides direct financial benefits to local businesses and residents, while also generating revenues for the protection of parks and other natural areas; and
Whereas, Ecotourism builds environmental awareness, emphasizing education, conservation, and traveler responsibility in sensitive environments; and
Whereas, The Cape May County Department of Tourism has worked to improve Cape May's ecotourism market and benefits from ecofriendly attractions such as the shoreline, whale watching, the Cape May Bird Observatory, and the Wetlands Institute; and
Whereas, Cumberland County has significant natural assets such as the Maurice and Cohansey rivers and lakes, thousands of acres of federal and State protected lands for hiking, birding and fishing on the Delaware Bay, and miles of rural roads that provide safe, scenic cycling routes; and
Whereas, In Atlantic and Ocean counties, the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is an example of an ecotourism destination for travelers to explore 47,000 acres of southern New Jersey coastal habitats and observe part of the Atlantic Flyway used by migrating birds; and
Whereas, The Delaware Bayshore Region, stretching along the southwestern coast of New Jersey, contains salt marsh, woodland, beach and dune habitats while also providing valuable recreational opportunities and a migratory stopover for shore birds; and
Whereas, Local ecotourism destinations are currently not being promoted by the PANYNJ airports, creating a missed tourism opportunity for domestic and international travelers; and
Whereas, New Jersey has marketed itself as an ecotourism destination for over 20 years, with destinations that include the Pinelands, the Highlands, the Jersey Shore, numerous historic sites, and thousands of acres of protected State and federal lands; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to allocate an area in each of its international airports for the promotion of local ecotourism destinations.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and the Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to allocate an area in each of its international airports for the promotion of local ecotourism destinations. Ecotourism is the practice of traveling to and enjoying a beautiful natural place in a way that does not damage the environment. Ecotourism builds environmental awareness, emphasizing education, conservation, and traveler responsibility in sensitive environments. New Jersey has marketed itself as an ecotourism destination for over 20 years, with destinations that include the Pinelands, the Highlands, the Jersey Shore, numerous historic sites, and thousands of acres of protected State and federal land.
In 2013, the State of New Jersey's tourism sector generated $35.9 billion or 6.9 percent of the State's economy. In 2006, the Center for Regional Business Research at Atlantic Cape Community College calculated that ecotourism was a $522 million industry in Cape May and Cumberland counties. Ecotourism is a travel activity that provides direct financial benefits to local businesses and residents, while also generating revenues for the protection of parks and other natural areas.
