After years of hearing the word ecotourism, “Geotourism” starts to appear in travel publications as well as destination maps.
What is this entire new buzz about? Critics are fast to point out that it is just a new term for a market niche, but Jonathan B. Tourtellot thinks differently.
Jonathan B. Tourtellot, Senior Editor of National Geographic coined this term in 1997 in response to many requests for a concept more inclusive and holistic than “ecotourism” and “sustainable tourism”. The concept was introduced publicly in a 2002 report by the Travel Industry Association of America and National Geographic Traveler magazine.
Geotourism, note Tourtellot is the type of tourism that not only sustains and preservers the environment, but is also committed to respecting cultural sensitivities and building on local heritage. Geotourism enhances the geographical character of a place and community involvement is essential. They can be small-scale entrepreneurs like Liz Perdomo, a local woman in the town of Gracias, Honduras, who opened a restaurant specializing in Maya-inspired dishes served on Maya pottery or well connected civic leaders that foster awareness of cultural traditions and products not only with foreigners but with locals, too.
Geotourism is incompatible with loss of natural or cultural diversity; it seeks to preserve that distinctiveness that every destination in the world has in order to avoid the overwhelming expansion of franchises that convert destinations in look-alike screen sets for a bad movie suitable only to resort mass tourism that seeks only the cheapest price. So geotourism means great trips. Enthusiastic visitors bring new knowledge home, telling stories that send friends and relatives off to experience the same thing—a continuing business for the destination
It all sounds good, but how to implement the idea?
The Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD) from the National Geographic Society provides guidance to destinations and governments to help them use the geotourism approach to improve stewardship and attract the most beneficial, least disruptive forms of tourism.
How to start?
By signing the Statement of Principles provided by the CSD. The CSD can also provide information to help destination stakeholders develop a strategy to develop, sustain and market this approach to the local population and will work with a community-based local geotourism alliance to create a co-branded National Geographic map that highlights the natural, historic, and cultural assets unique to a destination. There is even a 13 principle charter for destinations to follow.
It may sound like a lot of work and in fact, it is, but it may also mean good business. Michigan State University's Tourism Resource Center points out “over 50% of U.S. tourists fit nicely into the geo-tourist category, and these tourists are especially active travelers with relatively high incomes. Their share of total domestic travel expenditures far exceeds the 50% share of tourists they collectively represent."
We may also have to leave behind prejudices when thinking about profiting from tourists; backpacker travel, which costs far less and in many cases treads more lightly upon the Earth, is a form of geotourism, and Tourtellot devotes considerable time trying to convince tourist officials that they shouldn’t just focus on attracting big-bucks visitors. An Australian study showing that backpackers spend just as much as deluxe travelers, but over a longer period of time. And more of their money, he notes, stays in the local economy rather than being sucked up by foreign interests
Peru is regarded by many as one of the most perfect travel destinations in the world. A beautiful coastline, tropical jungle, the breathtaking Andes and some of the earth’s most important historical sites make Peru a truly ‘something for everyone’ travel destination.
Peru has started working with the CSD and the World Bank on some specific tourism aspects of a project for rehabilitating the valley of Rio Vilcanota, from Machu Picchu almost to Cuzco, including the “Sacred Valley”. A small effort to start with. With people expected to take a billion and a half trips by 2015 without including people taking domestic vacations. It is definitely a essential not to miss the boat.
The first country that announced an official Geotourism strategy was Honduras in 2004.
Sources:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable/about_geotourism.html
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/001712.html
www.odemagazine.com
What is this entire new buzz about? Critics are fast to point out that it is just a new term for a market niche, but Jonathan B. Tourtellot thinks differently.
Jonathan B. Tourtellot, Senior Editor of National Geographic coined this term in 1997 in response to many requests for a concept more inclusive and holistic than “ecotourism” and “sustainable tourism”. The concept was introduced publicly in a 2002 report by the Travel Industry Association of America and National Geographic Traveler magazine.
Geotourism, note Tourtellot is the type of tourism that not only sustains and preservers the environment, but is also committed to respecting cultural sensitivities and building on local heritage. Geotourism enhances the geographical character of a place and community involvement is essential. They can be small-scale entrepreneurs like Liz Perdomo, a local woman in the town of Gracias, Honduras, who opened a restaurant specializing in Maya-inspired dishes served on Maya pottery or well connected civic leaders that foster awareness of cultural traditions and products not only with foreigners but with locals, too.
Geotourism is incompatible with loss of natural or cultural diversity; it seeks to preserve that distinctiveness that every destination in the world has in order to avoid the overwhelming expansion of franchises that convert destinations in look-alike screen sets for a bad movie suitable only to resort mass tourism that seeks only the cheapest price. So geotourism means great trips. Enthusiastic visitors bring new knowledge home, telling stories that send friends and relatives off to experience the same thing—a continuing business for the destination
It all sounds good, but how to implement the idea?
The Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD) from the National Geographic Society provides guidance to destinations and governments to help them use the geotourism approach to improve stewardship and attract the most beneficial, least disruptive forms of tourism.
How to start?
By signing the Statement of Principles provided by the CSD. The CSD can also provide information to help destination stakeholders develop a strategy to develop, sustain and market this approach to the local population and will work with a community-based local geotourism alliance to create a co-branded National Geographic map that highlights the natural, historic, and cultural assets unique to a destination. There is even a 13 principle charter for destinations to follow.
It may sound like a lot of work and in fact, it is, but it may also mean good business. Michigan State University's Tourism Resource Center points out “over 50% of U.S. tourists fit nicely into the geo-tourist category, and these tourists are especially active travelers with relatively high incomes. Their share of total domestic travel expenditures far exceeds the 50% share of tourists they collectively represent."
We may also have to leave behind prejudices when thinking about profiting from tourists; backpacker travel, which costs far less and in many cases treads more lightly upon the Earth, is a form of geotourism, and Tourtellot devotes considerable time trying to convince tourist officials that they shouldn’t just focus on attracting big-bucks visitors. An Australian study showing that backpackers spend just as much as deluxe travelers, but over a longer period of time. And more of their money, he notes, stays in the local economy rather than being sucked up by foreign interests
Peru is regarded by many as one of the most perfect travel destinations in the world. A beautiful coastline, tropical jungle, the breathtaking Andes and some of the earth’s most important historical sites make Peru a truly ‘something for everyone’ travel destination.
Peru has started working with the CSD and the World Bank on some specific tourism aspects of a project for rehabilitating the valley of Rio Vilcanota, from Machu Picchu almost to Cuzco, including the “Sacred Valley”. A small effort to start with. With people expected to take a billion and a half trips by 2015 without including people taking domestic vacations. It is definitely a essential not to miss the boat.
The first country that announced an official Geotourism strategy was Honduras in 2004.
Sources:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable/about_geotourism.html
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/001712.html
www.odemagazine.com
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