Skamania County Selected to Participate in Geotourism Project with National Geographic

Public Nominations Needed for Inclusion in Central Cascades MapGuide

Skamania County Chamber of Commerce announced a geotourism project with the National Geographic Society, Travel Oregon and Washington State Tourism to develop a bi-state, high quality, themed map of the Central Cascades Region. Geotourism is defined by National Geographic as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographic character of a place – its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture and the well-being of its residents.

The Central Cascades Geotourism project is a printed MapGuide and interactive website designed to promote natural and cultural attractions, as well as encourage a sense of pride in a region’s local communities. The boundaries of the region include Mt. Rainier to the north and Crater Lake to the south and stretch from Highway 97 west to Interstate 5.

Input from Skamania County’s residents is key to the development of the MapGuide. Nominations can be made at the Central Cascades Geotourism website at www.thecentralcascades.com and will be accepted through March 29, 2009. All submitted nominations will also be considered for inclusion on the website.

To facilitate the nomination process, Skamania County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Washington State Tourism to host a free community forum on Thursday, February 12, 2009 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Stevenson Community Library, 120 NW Vancouver Avenue, Stevenson, Washington. The community forum will consist of an overview of the MapGuide project and a discussion to generate nomination ideas. To register on-line for this free workshop, visit http://mapguideworkshop-stevenson.eventbrite.com/.

Nominations selected for the MapGuide and the website will highlight the people, experiences, sites and attractions that set this region apart from any other place on the planet. A sample nomination might be a one-of-a-kind nature trail, waterfall or geological formation, a locally owned and operated restaurant, an annual cultural event or local heritage museum, a farm that offers tours or a local bird watching hot spot.

“The geotourism approach is an excellent way to build the economy of communities throughout the Central Cascades while maintaining their inherent richness and integrity,” said Marsha Massey, executive director of Washington State Tourism. “We’re excited that National Geographic chose to highlight the Central Cascades in a MapGuide. The natural beauty of the area, the sense of community and the recreational opportunities are world-class.”
The project is being directed by the National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations with the Central Cascades Advisory Committee. The Central Cascades Project Advisory Committee is a coalition of Travel Oregon, Washington State Tourism, Sustainable Travel International, Rural Development Initiatives, Sustainable Northwest, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
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 today works to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 350 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and four other magazines including National Geographic Traveler; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; radio programs; films; books; videos and DVDs; maps; and interactive media. National Geographic has funded more than 8,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.