Eco-tours to be offered in Orange Beach

Eco-tours to be offered in Orange Beach - Baldwin County NOW - A Gulf Coast Information Source for South Alabama: "ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — With the opening of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail, Orange Beach is taking the steps to tap in to the nature tourism industry."

“Nature-based tourism is the fastest growing segment of the industry,” coastal resources manager Phillip West said. “What we have is the ability to explore relatively new and, we believe, fertile ground in the nature tourism segment.”

While West said the plan of the trail was never to capitalize on eco-tourism, the venture is demanding exploration.

“We’re going to be behind the curve of our competitors that realize that if we don’t start taking advantage of opportunities like promoting the Backcountry Trail,” West said.

To kick off promotions, the idea of eco-tours have developed into the newest project.

A two-hour guided trip of the trail is in the works, and the city is hoping it will debut at the end of February.

Larry Ellis, natural resources manager, said surveys left by trail visitors are asking for deeper information of the trail.