Geotourism explained

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Gulf War Bubble

bursts

Tourism growth goes on. . .

SARS& IraqWar

Center for Sustainable Destinations Center for Sustainable Destinations

Sightseeing

Local cuisin

Cultural tourism

From eco- to geo-

ECOTOURISM:nature

Heritage tourism

Indigenous

tourism

Agri-tourism

tourism pays to protect … not destroy

40 %70%

SEGMENT SIZE

Apathetics6%

Outdoor Sportsmen3%

Self-Indulgents14%

Wishful Thinkers

Good Citizens17%

Urban Sophisticates

Geo-Savvys21%

Traditionals6%

Percent of the 13.6 million U.S. adults who traveled internationally 3+ times in the past 3 years

DESTINATION TOURISM STYLES DIFFER IN RELATION TO PLACE

Touring R & R Entertainment

DESTINATION STYLE DRIFT . . .

if development unchecked, unguided

Touring R & R Entertain-ment

Unspoiled

destination

SPOILED ?

Geotourism Principle 1Integrity of place Sustain and enhance geographical character

Geotourism Principle 2International CodesAdhere to global code of ethics

Geotourism Principle 3

Market SelectivityEncourage stewardship in tourism growth

Market DiversityFull range of food and lodging

Geotourism Principle 5Tourism Satisfaction Personal experience creates a migrating story

• Tourist SatisfactionPersonal experience creates a migrating story

Community involvementBase tourism on community assets

• Community involvement Base tourism on community assets

Geotourism Principle 7Community benefitEncourage small business strategies and upward employment mobility

Encourage stewardship in tourism growth

Promote destination appeal Promote destination appeal Protect natural habitats, heritage sites, Protect natural habitats, heritage sites, aesthetics, culture; avoid overcrowdingaesthetics, culture; avoid overcrowding

Geotourism Principle 8• Sustain heritage sites and local culture

Geotourism Principle 8 Sustain heritage sites and local culture

Geotourism Principle 9Land use: Land use: Avoid sprawling, excessive development; contain high-Avoid sprawling, excessive development; contain high-density in clusters; provide affordable housingdensity in clusters; provide affordable housing

Geotourism Principle 10Conservation of resourcesConservation of resourcesPromote environmental management plans for Promote environmental management plans for energy, pollution, lighting, etc.energy, pollution, lighting, etc.

• Conservation of resources

Promote environmental management plans

for energy, pollution, lighting, etc.

Planning Planning Balance short-term economic needs against Balance short-term economic needs against long-term enhancement of geographical characterlong-term enhancement of geographical character

Geotourism Principle 12Interactive interpretation:Interactive interpretation: Engage both visitors Engage both visitors and hosts in learning about the placeand hosts in learning about the place

• Interactive interpretation Engage both visitors & hosts in local learning

THE THE PLACE PLACE

Tourism interests(differentiation)

Residents(pride and

benefits)

Tourists(enthusiasm)

Politicians(the usual)

Leakage; irresponsible Leakage; irresponsible business practicesbusiness practices

The Circle Broken

Place-based tourism Community

benefit

Motive to protect

Obstacles Obstacles to to protectionprotection

Benefits Benefits too too selective, selective, or not or not apparentapparent

Geotourism Virtuous Circle

Place-based tourism Community

benefit

Motive to protect

Challenges

1. Overuse = abuse2. Negative perception3. Economic challenges

With geotourism1. Spread visitors out2. Positive curiosity

3. 90 of 100 business increased $$$

Get on the Map!

Challenges

2. Regional competing3. Struggling economy

1. “looking out”

With geotourism

1. ‘Look in’ to Value

2. Co-op marketing

3. Expanded Profit

Hardwick. VT

Embassy Suites, South Lake TahoeIncrease Appeal, Save Money, Benefit community and watershed

•$200,000 investment •ROI = 7 months•$350,000 operational savings year 1•LED’s, ozone laundry, energy monitoring > energy 30% fuel 50%•Compost + recycle > $5,200 month•Increase shoulder season occupancy•$100K piece of business from ‘compostable straw’

Honduras

First country to make geotourism its national tourism strategy.

Geotourism Charter signed 22 Oct 2004

Norway

Geotourism Charter Geotourism Charter signed 31 Aug 2005signed 31 Aug 2005

RomaniaGeotourism Charter signed 27 Sept. 2005

World Wilderness Congress

Geotourism Charter endorsed Oct. 2005

Geotourism Charter signed August 2006

Cook Islands

Center for Sustainable Destinations Center for Sustainable Destinations

A project in practice: Sonoran Desert region

Arizona, U.S.A. and Sonora, Mexico

Geotourism Charter signed Dec. 2005

Waterton-Glacier Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, International Peace Park, Canada-USACanada-USAWorld Heritage destinationWorld Heritage destinationTrans-border Trans-border Geotourism Stewardship CouncilGeotourism Stewardship Counciland MapGuide projectand MapGuide project

Norway’s Queen Sonja at final signing of the Norwegian Geotourism Charter at NGS

Tourism offices pick up the theme

A Geotourism Strategy

• Identify• Sustain • Develop • Market

IdentifyIdentify Geotourism AssetsGeotourism Assets

DevelopDevelop GeotourismGeotourism

on character & community

PromoteThe geotourism storyThe geotourism story

Enhance sense of placeEnhance sense of place•Stewardship •Stewardship • private enterprise • private enterprise • conservation / preservation• conservation / preservation• civic participation• civic participation

SustainSustain

Protect the tourism product Protect the tourism product The placeThe place!!

Geotourism explained

Education

Geotourism Scores 115 Top World Destinations

Geotourism geoheritage

National Geographic Geotourism Program

Collaborative Tourism Infrastructure for Geotourism and...

Identifying and Planning Geotourism Experiences: A Case...

Australian-Chinese Partnership Creating New Geotourism...

The Muscat Geotourism Guide

Geotourism and the underestimated potential of ‘ordinary.....

Geotourism, Ecotourism and Regional Development ... ·...

IDENTIFICATION OF THE GEOTOURISM POTENTIAL OF …

Rangkuman Buku Geotourism

Geotourism Brochure

Global Geotourism

· relating to geotourism, geotrails and geoparks was...

Geological and Geotourism Study of Iran Geology Natural...

A Review of Geotourism and Geoparks: Is Africa Missing out.....