Sunshine Matters

Picture your natural attraction, your distinctive wildlife habitat, your historic location – in other words, your authentic Florida destination – in a print guide, an interactive website and a digital app developed and promoted with National Geographic.

Picture yourself also serving on a regional geotourism council that will assist in the oversight of this important initiative. More on that in a minute.

Here’s the news.

The four U.S. Gulf States (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi) most affected by the 2010 DeepWater Horizon disaster are joining with National Geographic Maps to highlight the region’s world-class natural and cultural attractions.  The project seeks to contribute to the economic health of these communities by promoting Geotourism: tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.

Your nominations can join a Geotourism microsite that will become part of the National Geographic family of sites.

Here’s how you do it.  First, go to the website: www.usgulfcoaststatesgeotourism.com.

Click on START NOMINATING HERE.

After a quick and easy registration process, you can begin submitting your nominations.  There are more than 80 categories or opportunities, including accommodations, public service programs, downtowns and cultural districts, festivals, historic locations, museums and natural areas.

You can upload as many images as you wish with your nomination.  You also can add videos, documents and sound files.  Tools are available to map your destinations.  Nominate as much as you want.

The deadline is tentatively July 15, but submissions will be accepted after that date.

Questions?  Darienne Mobley with National Geographic is your guide.  Her photo and phone information are on the nomination form.  Or download these illustrated instructions.

Besides promoting your location’s charms with National Geographic, there’s also an opportunity to serve.

Each state can have its own Geotourism stewardship council that can meet to help disseminate the information and help with nominations.

Darienne Mobley writes: “If you would like to plan something in Florida, we can come and facilitate a meeting.  At the very least, we need two – three representatives for the regional Geotourism council that will meet two to three times in the coming year.  They will assist in approving nominations for Florida and overseeing website decisions.  You will remain our State Coordinator to approve everything that we use from or about Florida.”

Interested in serving?  Email me at kevin@VISIT FLORIDA.org.  Put Nat Geo Geotourism in the subject line.

Help put your destination on the map.

Kevin McGeever
Senior Editor