Huntington to Host Ecotourism Conference

Ecotourism and conservation will be the hot topics Nov. 13-15 when Huntington Beach hosts the fifth annual Watchable Wildlife Conference at the Waterfront Hilton Beach Resort.

Wildlife viewing has become one of the nation’s fastest-growing travel niches, estimated to be an $18.1-billion business in the United States. Diane Baker, president of the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, said the city was particularly pleased to land the conference since the topic is such a natural for Orange County.

Keynote speakers include state librarian Kevin Starr, who will talk about California’s role in the national conservation movement; Jean-Michel Cousteau, who will give an overview of marine conservation and ecotourism trends; and author and birder Pete Dunne, who will discuss balancing tourism with conservation.

The conference will feature a number of educational sessions, including a presentation by the California Division of Tourism on “How to Market Ecotourism.” For more information, contact the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau at (714) 969-3492.

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Marla Dickerson covers tourism for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-5670 and at marla.dickerson@latimes.com