Officials in the US are confident that the famous Great Smoky Mountains national park in Tennessee can become an ecotourism stronghold for
backpacking tourists.
The US government has already committed $1.5 million in investment for the park, which will go towards recruiting new rangers and regenerating a visitor centre.
Great Smokey Mountains national park covers some 520,000 acres of land and attracts around 9.2 million visitors per year.
Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen remains confident that to ecotourism can ensure a successful and sustainable maintenance of the park.
He said: "When it comes to such far-reaching and vital issues as conservation and sustainability, it is really through strong partnerships that we are going to be able to make a real and lasting and positive change."
The Great Smokey Mountains is also serviced by a vintage rail service and for train enthusiasts there is even a Smokey Mountains Trains Museum.
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