“Geotourism (n): Tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and well-being of its residents.”

The National Geographic Society has begun working with local organizations, businesses and residents to map the best of East Tennessee. This collaboration is facilitated by the Southeast Watershed Forum, a Tennessee-based non-profit organization supporting communities throughout the southeastern United States to better protect their land and water resources since 1998.

Mark Donaldson

The National Geographic Society has worked with community-based alliances to develop similar Geotourism MapGuides in other regions around the world. Projects have been completed or are ongoing for: Greater Yellowstone, the Central Cascades (Oregon, Washington), the Crown of the Continent (Alberta, British Columbia, Montana), Guatemala, Montreal, Sonoran Desert (Arizona, Sonora Mexico), Western Balkans, Romania, Sierra Nevada, Norway, Honduras, Douro Valley of Portugal, the Four Corners region of the United States, Peru, Baja California, Rhode Island, Vermont and Appalachia.

Over the next several months, residents of the region will be invited to recommend historic, cultural and natural landmarks; events, attractions and activities; businesses, farms and ranches; artists, artisans and storytellers who capture the region’s unique character and beauty. Using these recommendations, National Geographic will produce a Geotourism website to promote travel that celebrates and sustains what is most distinctive about our area - its unique and compelling landscapes, communities, culture and history.

The Geotourism MapGuide project will focus on a stretch of the Tennessee River watershed in East Tennessee between the main gateways of Knoxville and Chattanooga, including the Smoky Mountains.

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. It reaches more than 360 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; exhibitions; school publishing programs; interactive media; and merchandise. National Geographic has funded more than 9,000 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program combating geographic illiteracy. For more information, visit nationalgeographic.com.

MPC will share any information we receive about this effort.