Center for Sustainable Destinations

tourism pays to protect … not destroy

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Center for Sustainable Destinations

27M

40 %70%

Center for Sustainable Destinations

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

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Center for Sustainable Destinations

The Geotourism Charter

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

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle

1

Integrity of place:

Sustain and enhance geographical character

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle 2

• International Codes

Adhere to global code of ethics

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle 3

• Market Selectivity

Distinctive Character

VS.

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle 4

• Market Diversity

Full range of food and lodging

Center for Sustainable Destinations

• Tourist SatisfactionPersonal experience creates a migrating story

Geotourism Principle 5

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle 6

• Community involvement Base tourism on community assets

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle 7

• Community benefit Encourage small business strategies and upward employment mobility

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle 8• Promote destination appeal:

Protect natural habitats, heritage sites, aesthetics, culture; avoid overcrowding

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle 9

• Land use Avoid sprawling, excessive development contain high-density affordable housing

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle 10

• Conservation of resources

Promote environmental management plans

for energy, pollution, lighting, etc.

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle 11

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

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Geotourism Principle 12

• Interactive interpretation Engage both visitors & hosts in local learning

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Sustain Your Geotourism Assets

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

Center for Sustainable Destinations

A Geotourism Strategy

• Identify• Sustain • Develop • Market

geotourism assets

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Identify Geotourism Assets

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Sustain

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Develop Geotourism Assets

Center for Sustainable Destinations

Market

Center for Sustainable Destinations

The geotourism test:The geotourism test: Are we sustaining or Are we sustaining or enhancing the unique enhancing the unique quality of our place?quality of our place?