Respect Marquette County

Responsible tourism doesn’t mean fewer visitors – it means better experiences for everyone involved.

Working in collaboration with other partners, Travel Marquette launched the Respect Marquette County initiative, a promotional campaign aimed at helping visitors and locals alike be respectful of local recreation areas. The campaign urges people to spread out and not congregate at the same place, no matter how social media presents the area.

The Origins
The Respect Marquette County campaign began as a response to an uptick in frustration on social media about visitor behavior. It started with the natural environment like Presque Isle Park and Dead River Falls being overwhelmed by visitors. Even though Dead River Falls has long been described as one of the best in the Upper Peninsula, both sites were removed from local marketing due to overtourism.

Rather than letting tensions rise, Travel Marqeutte brought community leaders together to start a bigger conversation. More than two dozen organizations from across the county, including the state, community and economic development, trails organizations and conservation groups started a sustainability coalition promoting Respect Marquette.This coalition was made in partnership with the national organization Leave No Trace. The coalition has adapted the seven principles created by the Leave No Trace Center of Outdoor Ethics to reflect what is happening in Marquette.

The Respect Marquette Pledge
At its heart is the Respect Marquette Pledge, which invites both residents and travelers to commit to respectful, responsible behavior while enjoying Marquette’s natural beauty and vibrant culture. Those who take the pledge are entered into a quarterly drawing for a $200 ‘Love on Local’ gift card. The pledge includes acknowledging and respecting cultural norms, packing out and removing litter and leaving Marquette County better than you found it.

The Power of Slow Travel
Respect Marquette aims to promote a better way to travel. The initiative encourages “slow travel,” inviting visitors to take their time, engage meaningfully with the community, and leave a lighter footprint. By promoting activities like hiking lesser-known trails, attending local festivals, or shopping at independent businesses, the campaign shifts the narrative from consumption to connection. This not only protects the environment but also ensures that tourism dollars are distributed within the community, supporting local livelihoods and fostering year-round wellbeing.

Modeling Behavior Through Education
What sets Respect Marquette apart is its emphasis on peer-to-peer education and local leadership. Instead of relying solely on signage or social media campaigns, the initiative empowers residents to model the behavior they wish to see in visitors. For example, local outdoor guides teach Leave No Trace principles during excursions, and business owners display pledge materials to spark conversations with tourists.

This grassroots strategy builds a culture of mutual accountability. This way, residents are partners in tourism management. At the same time, visitors are treated as guests rather than consumers, invited into a respectful relationship with the land and the people who call it home.

The Respect Marquette County initiative offers a replicable model for destinations seeking to harmonize tourism with community wellbeing. In a time when overtourism threatens many destinations, Marquette County shows that collective respect can be a powerful tool for sustainable tourism.