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State seeks pledges to explore South Dakota respectfully [1]

['Searchlight Staff', 'More From Author', '- August']

Date: 2023-08 

Modern information sharing means there are almost no undiscovered places anymore, and that’s led to some negative effects that state tourism officials are trying to counteract.

Travel South Dakota, an arm of the state Department of Tourism, is launching a campaign encouraging visitors and South Dakotans to pledge that they’ll travel respectfully. The campaign, which incorporates the state’s only area code, is called Forever 605.

“Forever 605 is about letting the wild be wild, not overcrowding destinations, and leaving nothing behind but your boot prints,” said James Hagen, secretary of the Department of Tourism, in a news release.

People can take the pledge online at Forever605.com. Everyone who pledges will receive a Forever 605 sticker and be entered for a chance to win additional prizes.

The department said the goal of the pledge is protecting South Dakota’s waterways, trails and natural beauty. The pledge also encourages people to look beyond crowded destinations and seek experiences in all areas of the state, to shop locally, and to treat frontline employees with care.

“By strengthening communities and taking good care of this place we love, our beautiful scenery and opportunities to create meaningful experiences can be enjoyed for generations to come,” Hagen said in the release.

The release didn’t mention specific examples, but some natural sites in South Dakota, especially in the Black Hills, have come under stress in recent years from increased visitation driven by online information sharing. Those sites include places that were formerly viewed as unofficial attractions known mostly to locals, such as Devils Bathtub, Poet’s Table, Hippie Hole and the Rock Maze.

For people, businesses and organizations involved in the tourism and visitor industries, Travel South Dakota has produced a webinar and a resource page on its industry-focused website, SDVisit.com/Forever-605. The page explains how to engage with the Forever 605 program and share it with communities and visitors.

That page says the department hopes to encourage actions such as picking up trash, staying on designated trails, respecting wildlife, preserving cultural integrity, and more.

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[1] Url: https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/state-seeks-pledges-to-explore-south-dakota-respectfully/

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