The Geotourism Approach

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Uniting Culture, Nature, Preservation, and
Economics
The Geotourism Strategy
National Geographic Society Center for
Sustainable Destinations
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DESTINATION TOURISM STYLES DIFFER IN RELATION TO
PLACE
R R
Entertain-ment
Touring
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Touring-style tourism Depends on human and
physical character of place.

• ACTIVITIES
• sightseeing
• history
• nature
• scenery
• hiking / Nordic skiing
• local shopping
• typical cuisine
• photography
• etc.

• CHARACTERISTICS
• Diffuse impact
• Supports small businesses
• Requires protecting nature and heritage
• Needs architecture, landscapes, cuisine, etc.
  distinctive to the locale.

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R R tourism Depends only on physical
character of place.

• CHARACTERISTICS
• Risk of sprawl
• Environmental impacts
• Opportunity for architecture, landscaping,
  cuisine, day tours, etc., that suit the locale. .

• ACTIVITIES
• coastal resorts
• golf
• downhill skiing
• water sports
• vacation homes

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Entertainment-style tourism Does not depend on
character of place.

• CHARACTERISTICS
• Changes nature of locale high impact.
• High employment generator.
• Mass tourism high traffic.

• ACTIVITIES
• theme parks
• outlet malls
• amusement parks
• convention centers
• sports arenas
• casinos

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DESTINATION STYLE DRIFT . . . if development
unchecked, unguided
Unspoiled destination tourism based on place
SPOILED?Placeless
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geotourism

• Tourism that sustains or enhances the
  geographical character of a place its
  environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage,
  and the well-being of its residents.

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Tourism and sustainability
SUSTAINABLE TOURISMFirst, do no harm.
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From eco- to geo-
Manage tourism so that it pays to protect the
place, not destroy it.
All place-based types of tourism
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FLORA AND FAUNA
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HISTORY
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ARCHAEOLOGY
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SCENIC PLACES
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GEOLOGY
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TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE
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LOCAL MUSIC
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CUISINE
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LOCAL CRAFTS
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DANCES
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ARTS
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geotourism

• Tourism that sustains or enhances the
• geographical character of a place its
  environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture,
  and the well-being of its residents.

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geotourism

• Tourism that sustains or enhances the
  geographical character of a place its
  environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage,
  and the well-being of its residents.

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RESTORATIVE
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CONSTRUCTIVE
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The Geotourism Charter
A set of principles to promote sustainable
tourism and enlightened destination stewardship.
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Honduras
First country to make geotourism its national
tourism strategy. Geotourism Charter signed 22
Oct 2004
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Norway
Geotourism Charter signed 31 Aug 2005
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Romania
Geotourism Charter signed 27 Sept. 2005
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World Wilderness Congress
Geotourism Charter endorsed Oct. 2005
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Arizona, U.S.A. and Sonora, Mexico
Geotourism Charter signed Dec. 2005
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Cook Islands
Geotourism Charter signed August 2006
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A Geotourism Strategy Identify Sustain
Develop Market
geotourism assets
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Geotourism Stewardship Council includes

• Community organizations for. . . historic
  preservation nature ecotourism
  traditional performing arts farm/restaurant
  programs beautification programs urban
  renewal
• local government tourism and local
  businesses tourism promotion

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Marketing Geotourism Assets
To ensure sustained demand Plan not for
tourism, but for which tourists. Concentrate on
geotourism segments
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The Geotourists
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HH INCOME
NUMBER OF TRIPS
MEAN
TRADI- TIONALISTS
GEO-SAVVYS
URBAN SOPHIS-TICATES
SELF-INDUL-GENTS
GOOD CITIZENS
OUTDOOR SPORTS-MEN
APA-THETICS
WISHFUL THINKERS
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Identifying Geotourism Assets
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Sustaining Geotourism Assets
Protect the tourism product!
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Geotourism Charter principles
General goals
Integrity of place Sustain and enhance
geographical character
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Geotourism Principles Protect the product The
place
Conservation of resources Promote
environmental management plans for energy,
pollution, lighting, etc.
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Global warming
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Geotourism Principles Protect the product The
place
Conservation of resources Promote
environmental management plans for energy,
pollution, lighting, etc.
Land use Avoid sprawling, excessive
development contain high-density in clusters
provide affordable housing
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Geotourism Principles Protect the product The
place
Conservation of resources Promote
environmental management plans for energy,
pollution, lighting, etc.
Land use Avoid sprawling, excessive
development contain high-density in clusters
provide affordable housing
Promote destination appeal Protect natural
habitats, heritage sites, aesthetics, culture
avoid overcrowding
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Developing Geotourism Assets
Build on character of place.
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CONSTRUCTIVE
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CONSTRUCTIVE
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Geotourism Principles Place and People
Community involvement Base tourism on
community assets
Community benefit Encourage small business
strategies and upward employment mobility
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Identifying Geotourism Assets
Engage the communityall ages, walks of life. Use
a catalytic project place-based festivals and
events geotourism information projects (such
as map guides) Create a permanent program for
engaging residents and visitors, coordinated by
an independent Geotourism Stewardship
Council. Organize ongoing digital media feed.
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Sustaining Geotourism Assets
Establish a tourism management plan, including
limits. Establish development guidelines,
including conservation and preservation
policies aesthetic policies, with room for
innovation. Ensure the community benefits.
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Developing Geotourism Assets
Build on character of place. People are the best
resource. Research the past, research the
ecosystem, research skills and traditions
distinctive to the area. Visitors should leave
with stories to tell.
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Marketing Geotourism Assets
To ensure sustained demand Plan not for
tourism, but for which tourists. Seek tourist
segments with best cost/benefit ratio. Measure
success by benefit, NOT headcount!
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Marketing Geotourism Assets 2
Tell great stories. Enhance sense of place,
through Geotourism Stewardship Council,
private enterprise, conservation and
preservation civic participation
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The Geotourism MapGuide
A catalyst for constructive, sustainable tourism.
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Geotourism MapGuides

• 3 to 5 year shelf life, easy to update
• Can coordinate with websites and GPS-enabled
  handhelds
• Informs both visitors and residents
• Local alliance continues as destination
  stewardship council

• Dual purpose 1. Creates a marketing/educational
  map 2. Serves as an awareness-raising catalyst
  for destination stakeholders.

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The Sonoran Desert Geotourism MapGuide
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• Geoturismo en el Desierto Sonorense
• Proyecto de Colaboración Internacional

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Geotourism Stewardship Councils

• Arizona GSC- First meeting in Tucson, Arizona

Sonora GSC - First meeting in Ures, Sonora
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Vermont NE Kingdom project
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Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park,
Canada-USA
Transborder geotourism pilot project for World
Heritage destinations and public-land areas
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Destination communities
Travelers
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The geotourism test Are we sustaining or
enhancing the character of our place?
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www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable/
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Geotourism Virtuous Circle
Place-based tourism
Community benefit
Motive to protect and enhance
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The Circle Broken
Place-based tourism
Community benefit
Motive to protect and enhance
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Index of Destination Stewardship

• SIX CRITERIA
• Environment
• Cultural/social impact
• Aesthetics
• Built heritage
• Tourism management
• General outlook

• 0-2 Catastrophic
• 3-4 In serious trouble
• 5-6 In moderate trouble
• 7-8 Minor difficulties
• 9 Authentic, unspoiled, and likely to remain
  so
• 10 Enhanced

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54 Aruba
52 Outer Banks
49 Great Smoky Mtns
46 Costa Brava
41 Costa del Sol
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68 Guanajuato
66 Machu Pichu63 Cape Cod
61 Mont-St.-Michel
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82 Norwegian fjords
74 Vermont Quebec City old town
71 Tuscany Dubrovnik
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The TOP 88 Gwaii Haanas, BC 78 Apostle
Is., Wisc.
STILL OK 66 Antietam, Md. 62 Cumberland
Island, Ga.
FACING 55 Hot Springs, Ark. TROUBLE 51
Gettysburg, Pa. 50 Outer Banks
The BOTTOM 48 Shenandoah, Va. 40 Great
Smokies 34 Everglades