The CGTA is committed to developing the region as a world-class sustainable tourism economy, which includes protecting and enhancing our scenic, natural, cultural, and recreation resources of the Columbia River Gorge and neighboring Cascades, while highlighting our local communities off the beaten path. Our strategies include a focus on the following: * Spread the seasonality of visitation * Reduce congestion during peak seasons and in high-use areas by offering CAR FREE VISITOR TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS * Spread the benefits and increase the economic impact of tourism throughout the Gorge * Integrate CULTURAL HERITAGE into the visitor experience, authentically and respectfully * Connect resources to optimize destination MARKETING to direct the flow of visitors away from hot spots and towards the lesser known, yet-to-be-discovered attractions, sites, and experiences * Focus on CULINARY & AGRITOURISM by celebrating local food and the farms who grow it, the producers who transform it, and the restaurants who serve it * Sharing CULTURE by highlighting the history and unique stories that are only found in the Columbia River Gorge * Develop and enhance the OUTDOOR RECREATION experiences while protecting the natural resources from their impact * Collaborating with and educating our WORKFORCE to help transform front-line staff into visitor welcoming ambassadors