July 25, 2013. The Shenandoah Valley Travel Association (SVTA) has just endorsed the Shenandoah Mountain Proposal, which calls for Congressional designation of a 90,000-acre tract of the George Washington National Forest as a National Scenic Area with several core areas as Wilderness. SVTA supports permanent protection of Shenandoah Mountain on the western flank of the Valley because "recreation activities and recreational lands are one of the most important assets in attracting visitors to the region." Shenandoah Mountain offers a "diverse array of opportunities, including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, scenic driving and horseback riding." It "complements the offerings of Shenandoah National Park." SVTA, the principal tourism marketing entity for the Shenandoah Valley since it was established in 1924, "firmly believes that [the designation] has the potential to draw more tourists to the Valley." According to SVTA, "The scenic beauty that is so essential to promoting tourism in the region requires management and protection."
RSS Feed