National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations

Programs for Places
The Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD) seeks to help individual places use the geotourism approach to improve stewardship and attract the most beneficial, least disruptive forms of tourism.
What We Do
Geotourism Charter
CSD offers governments and allied organizations the opportunity to sign this statement of principles (PDF) as a first step in adopting a geotourism strategy.

Geotourism Strategy
CSD can provide information to help destination stakeholders develop a strategy that 1) identifies, 2) sustains, 3) develops, and 4) markets the geotourism assets unique to the locale.

Geotourism MapGuides
To provide a catalyst for awareness raising, CSD 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. Read "How to develop a Geotourism MapGuide (PDF)."

 
 
Where We Do It
Photo: View of Glacier National Park
Crown of the Continent
Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, have teamed up with Montana, U.S.A., to launch a transboundary geotourism program for the region centered on the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Read the Press Release (PDF).

View MapGuide (PDF)
Photo: Mayan mask
Guatemala
President Oscar Berger presided as Guatemala signed the Geotourism Charter in April 2007, launching a program planned to include a community-based national Geotourism Stewardship Council, a Geotourism MapGuide, and other elements. Read the Press Release (PDF).
Photo: The Breakers
Rhode Island
Governor Donald Carcieri signed the Geotourism Charter in May 2007, demonstrating the state's continued commitment to exemplary destination stewardship. A new multi-sector task force, the Rhode Island Geotourism Collaborative, plans to hold a statewide series of workshops. Read the Press Release.
Photo: Saguaro cactus, Arizona
Arizona/Sonora
In an alliance with the Sonoran Institute, CSD has helped communities create the first transborder Geotourism MapGuide, for southern Arizona, U.S.A., and northern Sonora, Mexico.

View MapGuide in English (PDF)
View MapGuide in Spanish (PDF)
Image: Schoolhouse covered bridge in Troy, Vermont
Vermont
CSD and the Northeast Kingdom Geotourism Alliance have completed a MapGuide of the most rural and, some say, authentic corner of Vermont. View "Geotourism Grows in Vermont" (PDF).

View MapGuide (PDF)
Image: Village of Biertan, Romania
Romania
Romania signed the Geotourism Charter in 2005. Transylvania's beautiful Brasov County is the first to begin developing a geotourism project. See www.brasovtourism.com
Read Traveler Magazine's Geotourism Opportunities in Romania.
Photo: Norwegian fjord
Innovation Norway signed the Geotourism Charter (PDF) on August 31, 2005, becoming the first European country to adopt a national geotourism platform.
Read Traveler Magazine's Geotourism Opportunities in Norway.
Photo: Dancers in Honduras
In the world's first country to sign the Geotourism Charter (PDF), CSD is supplying a Geotourism for Communities booklet in Spanish (PDF).
Read Traveler Magazine's Geotourism Opportunities in Honduras.
Photo: Appalachia MapGuide
Appalachian Geotourism MapGuide
CSD partnered with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the people of Appalachia to create the first Geotourism MapGuide, published in the April 2005 National Geographic Traveler magazine. NGS also produced an online version.
Photo: Ruins in Peru
Peru
CSD is working with Peruvian authorities and the World Bank on tourism aspects of a project for rehabilitating the valley of the Rio Vilcanota from Machu Picchu almost to Cuzco, an area that includes the "Sacred Valley."
Photo: Baja mountains
Baja California
Partnering with Lindblad Expeditions, Fondo Mexicano Para la Conservacion de la Naturaleza, and local communities, CSD has completed a MapGuide for the Mexican states of Baja California and Baja California Sur.

View MapGuide (PDF)


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