Editorial: Nature in an unnatural setting

Sunday, Feb. 19, 2006 | 12:31 p.m.

An increasing number of tourists are discovering what many Las Vegas Valley residents probably hoped to keep a secret. Las Vegas is a great place to play outdoors.

According to a story by Las Vegas Sun reporter Richard Velotta, the Strip still overshadows the outdoor tourism market. But the number of visitors who eschew casinos in favor of hiking at Valley of Fire State Park, taking a helicopter ride over Lake Mead or the Grand Canyon or paddling a raft down the Colorado River below Hoover Dam is steadily climbing.

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority officials told the Sun that more than one-fifth of Las Vegas' tourists visit some kind of attraction outside the city. That means more than 8 million of the 39.1 million people expected to visit here in 2006 will be heading outside to play.

While the most popular destinations the LVCVA logged included the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, millions also make treks to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Valley of Fire and Spring Mountain Ranch state parks, Mount Charleston and the Desert National Wildlife Refuge.

The increase is obvious for the major air and bus tour operators, some of whom say they are expecting a 10 percent increase this year over last. But it also bodes well for smaller Las Vegas-based outfitters who lead Jeep tours, bicycle tours and raft trips.

Although casinos, shows and restaurants put Las Vegas on the tourism map, it's a good idea to remember that we had to build those. The area's natural wonders were already here. Now that we've discovered their worth in terms that economists understand, perhaps we can understand the value of protecting them, too.