Doing It Better: Sedona, Arizona

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Sarah-Jane Johnson

Prompted by a restive citizenry and a responsive city council, the DMO for the city of Sedona, in Arizona’s popular Red Rock country, now acts in effect as a destination stewardship council. That’s unusual. For part of our ongoing project to profile places with effective, holistic management, Sarah-Jane Johnson takes a deep dive into Sedona’s story. This is the sixth in the Destination Stewardship Center’s profiles of exemplary places with collaborative destination management in the spirit of GSTC’s Destination Criterion A1. Continue reading →

“Future of Tourism Coalition” Launches Today

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Jonathan Tourtellot

As tourism moves forward and begins to recover from the Covid-19 global pandemic, a new nonprofit coalition urges the world to re-center around a strong set of principles, vital for long term sustainable and equitable growth. Decades of unfettered growth in travel have put the world’s treasured places at risk – environmentally, culturally, socially, and financially. “Now is the chance to rebalance,” say Coalition leaders. Continue reading →

Minnesota’s Boundary Waters at Risk

Posted on November 7, 2018 by Thomas Winderl

A trip into a popular wild paradise raises a question: What happens when public opinion fails to protect a destination? The only answer: Don’t give up. Continue reading →

Sierra Gorda To Lead New Video Series

Posted on January 9, 2018 by Erika Gilsdorf

Our First “World’s Inspiring Places,” a Short-Form Travel Documentary: Producer Erika Gilsdorf explains what inspired HER to launch this video series, focused on great stewardship of destinations. Continue reading →

Borrego Springs, CA Establishes Stewardship Council

Posted on November 8, 2014 by David Garmon

Geotourism comes to the southern California desert. In collaboration with the surrounding Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the community of Borrego Springs has adopted a mission statement and geotourism charter and established a stewardship council to guide development. Continue reading →

News from the Alaska Geotourism Initiative

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Tony Nakazawa

This university-led program addresses the challenge of attracting tourists to communities largely bypassed by charter flights, tour buses, and cruise passengers. Another project highlights cross cultural tourism, featuring the legacy of a 19th-century Japanese pioneer in Alaska. Geotourism courses are also in process. Continue reading →

Creating Low-Impact Tourism From Scratch

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Andy Dumaine

It was an unsettling surprise. Here I was leading a tourism workshop in the Comoro Islands, only to learn that many local stakeholders did not share my enthusiasm for the potential of this small Indian Ocean country west of Madagascar. … Continue reading →