What is this “Geotourism Strategy”?
Tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—
- its environment,
- culture,
- and the well-being of its residents.
Geotourism is …
- Environmentally responsible, committed to conserving resources and maintaining biodiversity.
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Culturally responsible, committed to respecting local sensibilities and building on local heritage.
- Synergistic,
bringing all elements of geographical character together to create a
tourist experience that is richer than the sum of its parts, and
appealing to visitors with diverse interests.
Geotourism is a holistic tourism that is managed so that it pays to
protect a place by employing tourism market concepts such as:
Market development is structured according to the destinations identity
and assets. Uniting Culture, Nature, Preservation, and Economics
What is the Geotourism approach to development of a destination?
The four key  strategies of Geotourism stewardship are:
- Identify Geotourism Assets
- Sustain Geotourism Assets
- Develop Geotourism Assets
- Market Geotourism Assets
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This is accomplished with the participation of the destination stakeholders.
Who guides the Geotourism process it?
NGSCSD works with local
communities, regions, states and countries to create an entity that
oversees the creation and implementation of a Geotourism strategy. The
Geotourism Stewardship Councils are represented by public, private and
civic organizations including conservation, tourism, preservation,
business, government, and transportation.
The destination identifies and sets up a Geotourism Stewardship Council that includes: Community organizations for. . .
- historic preservation
- nature & ecotourism
- traditional performing arts and artisanry
- farm/restaurant programs
- beautification
- indigenous and minority groups
- urban renewal
- local government
- tourism and local business expertise
- tourism promotion
- the characteristics of the place
What are the Geotourism principles?
NGSCSD offers governments
and allied organizations the opportunity to sign a statement of
principles as a first step in adopting a Geotourism strategy. After
committing to the strategy, signatories work with local communities to
determine their Geotourism goals. The Charter includes principles
regarding land use, community involvement, market diversity, and
evaluation among others.
There are thirteen guiding principles that guide the Geotourism strategy:
- Integrity of place: Sustain and enhance geographical character
- International codes: Adhere to WTO code, ICOMOS charter
- Market selectivity: Concentrate on Geotourism segments
- Market diversity: Have some options for all price ranges
- Tourist satisfaction: Ensure that visitors go home with enthusiastic stories to tell
- Community involvement: Base tourism on community assets
- Community benefit: Encourage small business strategies and upward employment mobility
- Interactive interpretation: Engage both visitors and hosts in learning about the place
- Promote destination appeal: Protect natural habitats, heritage sites, aesthetics, culture; avoid overcrowding
- Land use: Avoid sprawling overdevelopment; contain high-density in clusters; provide affordable housing
- Conservation of resources: Promote environmental management plans for energy, pollution, lighting, etc.
- Planning: Balance short-term economic needs against long-term enhancement of geographical character
- Evaluation: Conduct regular reviews by all stakeholders
Why Grenada?
Tourism is one of Grenada’s major economic drivers, attracting visitors
to its sandy beaches and forested mountains. With over 450 species of
flowering plants, 150 species of birds, including two endemic species,
the Grenada Dove and Hook billed kite, and abundant marine life, such
as leather back turtles. In fact the island of Carriacou is an Indian
name meaning “Land surrounded by reefs.” Diving around Carriacou is
well known for its unspoiled reefs. The islands offer significant
biodiversity in a small area.
The tri island state of Grenada also harbors a rich diversity of
cultural sites with prehistoric archaeology and over 400 years of
history and architecture from forts to sugar mills as well as living
culture based around the spice production and boating traditions of the
islands. Grenada has a strong West African culture, with its drum
culture, language, food and traditions. The majority of plantations on
Grenada were owned by free slaves as early as the 1700’s.
These rich natural assets of Grenada give the island its unique
destination appeal. The proper management of these natural assets can
assist in sustaining and enhancing our unique island flavor that sets
Grenada aside from other destinations.
What can it do for Grenada?
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- Geotourism encourages the decentralizing of development
within our capital parish St. George’s to the outer rural parishes and
dependants
- Geotourism will enable the equitable distribution of the tourism economy that is the largest contributor to Grenada’s GDP
- Geotourism development can provide alternative ideas to driving and enhancing the development S/MME in Grenada
- Geotourism
MapGuide development can serve as an educational tool for our youth and
spur off further research and documentation of our rich assets for
further generations.
- Geotourism development is based on the gathering of the
story of our history from our prospective through the capturing of our
oral history.
- The Geotourism strategy can assist as a catalysis program
in formulating a land use, macro economy tourism and physical plans and
policies with the participation of the local community participation.
- The rediscovery of the community’s assets and their investigations into the depth of these resources
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