Center for Sustainable Destinations. The National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations...

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

The National Geographic’sCenter for Sustainable DestinationsCSD Mission: To protect and enhance the world’s distinctive places through

wisely managed tourism and enlightened destination stewardship.

Core concept for achieving the mission: geotourism

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

Tourism and sustainability

UNSUSTAINABLE TOURISM:

• Overcrowding

• Lower quality of experience

• Loss of distinctiveness

• Erosion of culture and environment

GEOTOURISM:

Now, celebrate the place

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM:First, do no harm.

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

geotourism

Tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—

its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

Sightseeing

Local cuisine

Cultural

tourism

From eco- to geo-

ECOTOURISM:nature

Heritage tourism

Indigenous

tourism

GEOTOURISM

Agri-tourism

All place-based types of tourism =

the ENTIRE destination

Manage tourism so that it pays to protect the place, not destroy it.

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

FLORA AND FAUNA

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Sustainable Destinations

HISTORYHISTORY

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Sustainable Destinations

ARCHAEOLOGYARCHAEOLOGY

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Sustainable Destinations

GEOLOGY

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE

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Sustainable Destinations

LOCAL MUSIC

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Sustainable Destinations

CUISINECUISINE

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Sustainable Destinations

LOCAL LOCAL CRAFTSCRAFTS

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Sustainable Destinations

ARTS

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Sustainable Destinations

Going Beyond Green:Why Geotourism?

Geotourism is:• Holistic - because sustainability is about more than just the

environment: it incorporates culture and heritage• Place-based - this grassroots strategy works from the

bottom up, requiring the participation of the people who know the place best - its residents

• Marketable - Geotourism can create financial incentives for good destination stewardship, which in turn generates more interest - and spending - by tourists

• Competitive - Geotourism emphasizes, enhances and encourages development of the most unique aspects of a destination, making it a more desirable place

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Sustainable Destinations

And most of all…

Geotourism engages tourists, who have a more authentic

experience…

and residents,

who gain a deeper appreciation for what makes their place

unique

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Sustainable Destinations

The Geotourists

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Sustainable Destinations

The Geotourism Charter

A set of principles to promote sustainable tourism and enlightened destination stewardship

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

1. Integrity of place

2. International codes

3. Market selectivity

4. Product diversity

5. Tourist satisfaction

6. Community involvement

7. Community benefit

8. Protection and enhancement

of destination appeal

9. Use land wisely

10. Conservation of resources

11. Planning

12. Interactive interpretation

13. Evaluation

The Geotourism Principles

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Sustainable Destinations

A Geotourism Strategy

• Identify• Sustain • Develop • Market

geotourism assets

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Sustainable Destinations

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA

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Sustainable Destinations

Bread and Puppet Theater, Glover, VT

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Sustainable Destinations

Restored Farmhouse, Norway

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Sustainable Destinations

Fish Salting Demonstration, Nova Scotia

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

Set up a Geotourism Stewardship Council that includes:Community organizations for. . .

• Historic preservation• Nature and ecotourism• Traditional performing arts, artisanry and crafts• Farm/restaurant programs• Beautification/aesthetics• Indigenous and minority groups• Urban renewal• Local government• Tourism and local business expertise• Tourism promotion• Other characteristics of the place

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Stewardship Councils…

• Arizona GSC

• Sonora GSC

…get involved with a project -

Geotourism MapGuide,

festival, or other program.

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Sustainable Destinations

Celebrate Authenticity

Tell great stories.

Enhance sense of place through:

• Geotourism Charter signing,

• Establishment of a Stewardship Council,

• Sustainable private enterprise,

• Conservation and preservation

• Civic participation

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

Vermont Northeast Kingdom Project

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable/

Center for

Sustainable Destinations

The geotourism test: Are we

sustaining or enhancing the

character of our place?