About the CSD

Part of the Research, Conservation, and Exploration Division of National Geographic Mission Programs, the Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD) is dedicated to protecting all the world's distinctive places through wisely managed tourism and enlightened destination stewardship. The core strategy for achieving this mission is geotourism, defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. Working with many allied organizations, both global and local, CSD helps develop and disseminate information for adopting the geotourism approach-by destination communities, by tourism professionals, and by travelers themselves.

Contact Us

sustourism@ngs.org
+1 202 828 8045
1145 17th St. NW
Washington, DC 20036

About Our Staff

Jonathan B. Tourtellot, Director, and Geotourism Editor, National Geographic Traveler

Editor, writer, public speaker, self-taught geographer, and sometime photographer, Jonathan B. Tourtellot has served as a National Geographic Society senior editor since 1980 and became the Society's first Director of The Center for Sustainable Destinations in 2001. He is also geotourism editor for National Geographic Traveler magazine, where he founded the Destination Watch column and advises on tourism issues.

Mr. Tourtellot originated the concept of geotourism and is primary author of the Geotourism Charter (PDF). He helped develop the study Geotourism: The New Trend in Travel (PDF). He initiated and supervised Destination Scorecard surveys reported in National Geographic Traveler magazine. In helping to expand Traveler's coverage of tourism and destination management, he wrote the magazine's first two feature stories on the topic, "The Two Faces of Tourism" (July/August 1999) and "The Tourism Wars" (October 2000), both of which won awards, as well as authoring the July/August 2006 piece, "The Climate Bomb."

James E. Dion, Associate Director, Field Operations

Prior to joining National Geographic in February 2005, Mr. Dion directed international ecotourism programs for conservation NGO's in Mexico, Central America, and Asia, and lectured at the Technical University of Graz in Austria. Mr. Dion's interest in linking tourism to conservation and community development grew out of his over 15 years of experience as a professional river and wilderness guide/outfitter. He founded and developed locally run, sustainable tourism businesses in Europe and in North, Central, and South America.

Ann Nygard Associate Director, General Operations

Ms. Nygard served as executive director of Northeast Kingdom Travel and Tourism Association, in Vermont where she had boots on the ground with the Northeast Kingdoms Geotourism Program. Having lived and worked in Finland, Sweden, the UK, and Rwanda, she has created and implemented sustainable business practices with small businesses and multinationals alike. Ms. Nygard holds a MBA from Helsinki School of Economics and a BS from Cornell University (College of Human Ecology).

Internship Opportunities With CSD

CSD hires students and recent graduates for 3 to 6 month internships for credit or for a modest stipend. Click here to see if we are looking for a new intern.