Destination Stewardship Through Relationships, Respect, and Learning

Reflections from Samantha Hackett's conversation on the Learn Tourism podcast

What does destination stewardship look like in practice?

Sometimes it begins in a boardroom. Sometimes it starts around a planning table. And sometimes, as Tourism Tofino Executive Director Samantha Hackett explains in the latest episode of the Learn Tourism podcast, it starts by stepping away from the meeting altogether and going clam gardening.

In conversation with host Stephen Ekstrom, Samantha reflects on stewardship, destination management, and the responsibilities that come with welcoming visitors to a place as special as Tofino. The discussion explores a question many tourism communities are grappling with: how do we create meaningful visitor experiences while supporting the long-term well-being of the people, cultures, and ecosystems that make a destination worth visiting in the first place?

Throughout the conversation, Samantha shares how Tourism Tofino's approach to destination stewardship has evolved through relationships, learning, and collaboration. She reflects on the importance of understanding Tofino's place within Tla-o-qui-aht territory and how the Nuu-chah-nulth teaching of ʔiisaak, often understood as respect with caring action, has helped shape Tourism Tofino's Destination Stewardship Plan.

One of the most compelling themes of the episode is that stewardship cannot be learned solely through reports, strategies, or presentations. It is built through shared experiences, time spent on the land, and genuine relationships. As Samantha suggests, if you want to understand a place and the people who care for it, sometimes the most important thing you can do is skip the manager meeting and go clam gardening.

The episode offers valuable insights for tourism professionals, community leaders, and anyone interested in the future of destination stewardship. More importantly, it serves as a reminder that meaningful stewardship begins with humility, curiosity, and a willingness to learn from those whose connection to place stretches back generations.
 

Listen to “Go Clam Gardening: Samantha Hackett on Learning a Destination” on Apple Podcasts
 

Stream “Go Clam Gardening: Samantha Hackett on Learning a Destination”
 

Read: “What Tofino Teaches About Stewardship, Respect, and Choosing a Place”