Washington, United States
The National Geographic Society introduces its first annual "Geotourism Challenge: Celebrating Places/Changing Lives" collaborative competition to identify and showcase innovators in geotourism. Geotourism is 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."
Coordinated in partnership with Ashoka's Changemakers, the one-of-a-kind global Geotourism Challenge, at http://www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallenge, will accept online applications through April 9, 2008. Under the competition's collaborative framework, anyone can review and discuss applicants on the Web site. Three winners will each receive $5,000 and present their innovations at a Geotourism Challenge Summit.
"Tourism can alleviate poverty, educate the public, and preserve cultural, natural and historic resources. Done poorly, tourism fails to provide local benefits and may destroy the distinctive assets of a destination," said Jonathan B. Tourtellot, director of National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD). "The Challenge will recognize effective, replicable innovations to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy great destinations."
Travelers can nominate innovators for the opportunity to win a trip for two anywhere in the world in which WHL Travel operates. "We are thrilled to be partnering in this initiative which represents a new way to drive change in destination stewardship," said Len Cordiner, president of World Hotel Link and its travel entity, whl.travel.
National Geographic presented the Ashoka-CSD partnership as part of its Geotourism Commitment at the 2007 Clinton Global Initiative. "Ashoka's vision is to build an 'Everyone a Changemaker' world," said Bill Drayton, Ashoka's founder and CEO. "National Geographic's commitment will ensure geotourism innovators, decision-makers and enthusiasts can gather together to inspire a global community to care and to act."
About National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge," the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. www.nationalgeographic.com.
About Ashoka's Changemakers
Changemakers is building the world's first online "open source" community that competes to surface the best social solutions to the world's most pressing issues. To date Changemakers has attracted more than 2,000 solutions from more than 125 countries. www.changemakers.net.
Source: Business Wire (Business Wire India)