Global Impact Map
Map by NG Maps
Since its establishment at the National Geographic Society in 2001, the Center for Sustainable Destinations has employed the geotourism concept to sustain and enhance distinctive destinations of the world. Geotourism now has a global presence. Discover how real practitioners—travelers, communities, and tourism professionals—are enacting geotourism principles to steward character of place.
Geotourism Challenge 2008 Finalists
3 Sisters Adventure Trekking (Nepal) *Winner
Based in Nepal, 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking (3 Sisters) was founded in 1994 to empower and employ rural women in adventure travel. 3 Sisters is the only agency training and supplying woman guides to address the needs and interests of women travelers.
www.3sistersadventure.com
Rios Tropicales Lodge (Costa Rica) *Winner
Rios Tropicales strives to protect and conserve the rivers and rainforests of Costa Rica while also empowering and engaging the local community members. The native Cabecar Indians play a leading role in this effort for their own economic, educational, health, and soulful well-being.
www.riostropicales.com/
Yachana Foundation (Ecuador) *Winner
The Yachana High School, in conjunction with Yachana Lodge, provides Amazon youth an innovative, meaningful, practical, entrepreneurial focused education. All Yachana Lodge guests have the opportunity to visit and interact with students in different educational activities.
www.yachana.org.ec
Evason Phuket Eco Trail (Thailand)
Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa has set up an Eco Trail, which takes visitors on a journey through the resort. Local school groups, local communities, and guests learn the environmental practices of the resort and how they can help save the environment.
www.sixsenses.com/Evason-Phuket/index.php
Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries (Greece)
CCS organizes extraordinary cultural-culinary seminars for small groups. Their all-local network of professional organic farmers, chefs, historians, mountaineers and many others share knowledge about Crete's culture and nature.
www.cookingincrete.com
Eco-Health Farms (Latvia)
Eco-health farms raise awareness of the fundamental relationship between natural systems and human health. The EHF network has grown to 50 farms, many of which work with close to 1000 guests per season. These are farms that are conserving nature, implementing alternative resource-saving technologies, and using organic farming practices.
Banyan Tree (Maldives)
The Banyan Tree Maldives Marine Lab conducts marine classes on environmental conservation seven times a week in three languages at Banyan Tree Maldives Vabbinfaru, Angsana Resort & Spa Ihuru, and Angsana Resort & Spa Velavaru.
www.banyantree.com
Wildlife Conservation Society (Gabon)
The Society aims to establish and sustain Gabon as a new unique global destination for African rainforest tourism. Additionally, the Society brings people from around the world into contact with Gabon's unique pristine nature, where the wildlife of the equatorial rain forests spills out onto the Atlantic beaches. Over 400,000 years of human history has resulted in 40 ethnic groups and profound traditions.
www.gabonart.org
CC Africa - Phinda (South Africa)
Phinda, meaning "The Return," restored approximately 24,000 acres of reserve to the ancestral owners of the Mnqobokazi and Makhasa communities through land restitution. As a result, the local people have committed the land to wildlife in perpetuity.
ccafrica.com
Exotica Cottages (Dominica)
The owners of a small eco-resort, Exotica, designed a new tourism product for cruise visitors to the island. Local residents guide visitors through their homes and gardens.
www.exotica-cottages.com
Blue Ventures Conversation (Madagascar)
Blue Ventures partners with local communities to conserve threatened marine habitats and resources for the betterment of people and nature. The organization leads expeditions to threatened marine systems along Madagascar's southwest coast.
www.blueventures.org
Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust (India)
The Ladakh Himalayan Homestays offer a unique opportunity to share the culture of Himalayan people in remote villages while staying in traditional homes. Trekking through the rugged Himalayas, hikers explore the habitat of rare, endangered snow leopards.
www.himalayan-homestays.com
Great Baikal Trail (Russia)
The Great Baikal Trail allows access to parts of Lake Baikal that are now beyond the reach of most visitors. Through eco-tourism and volunteer vacations, the organization works to preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the deepest, purest, oldest lake in the world.
www.greatbaikaltrail.org
Tourism Board of Bhutan (Bhutan)
Tourism in Bhutan is driven by the concept of Gross National Happiness by placing the interests of the common people at the center of development. Additionally, tourism is seen not only as a revenue and employment generator but also as a means of strengthening the country's cultural and natural heritage.
designindia.com/dotbhutan/Advertisement
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