Passage Upstate is an initiative that intends to build community-based innovative local tourism in Newburgh, New York in order to promote the economic and social resilience of business owners and community members.
Passage Upstate is a project run in an economically struggling community in Hudson River Valley. It centers around the idea of “Localism” and sets out to prove that a responsible rethinking of tourism, which leverages a community’s existing resources, showcases the skills of its residents, and exposes innovative uses of these skills and resources, can provide a financially, culturally, and ecologically sustainable source of revenue for the community in order to build resilience. Healthy sustainable communities are backed by local economies. Through the introduction of community-based industry Passage Upstate seeks to connect members within a community, define common goals, create awareness around resources, expose local expertise, and foster trust. This project explores the relationship between a community’s indepth understanding of their environment, social networks, and the co-development of resilient practices.
