REGION — The National Geographic Society is developing an interactive geo-tourism website that will promote the upper and middle regions of the Delaware River. This includes nine counties in three states: Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey; Delaware, Orange and Sullivan counties in New York; and Monroe, Northampton, Pike and Wayne counties in Pennsylvania. Both the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River and the Middle Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, which includes the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, are part of the target region, which project organizers have dubbed the “Scenic, Wild Delaware River.”

Overview

The website is being developed by National Geographic with funding from the William Penn Foundation, in cooperation with the National Parks Conservation Association. It is part of National Geographic’s ongoing geotourism project, with geotourism 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.” For the project, National Geographic creates websites that help residents of geotourism destinations to tell their stories. They do so by seeking nominations from people in the communities located in the target areas. The project aims to promote economic stability for communities within the selected regions, as well as a shared identity that encourages collaboration across boundaries to benefit local communities and the natural system in which they exist. Projects have already been implemented along the Mississippi River corridor, the Gulf Coast States, Greater Yellowstone and other locations.

How to make a nomination

At a presentation at the Villa Roma, Simon Jones from National Geographic outlined the nomination process. Nominations can come from anyone who lives in the area—not, for example, a visitor who has been here once—and can be any business (e.g. restaurant, bed and breakfast), recreation spot (e.g. river access, hiking trail) and even people and events. They require four pieces of information: text, media, contact and place on the map. The text can include any information you think is necessary and would attract visitors. The media should be at least three to four photos, and preferably a video that is 30 to 90 seconds.

After the initial period during which National Geographic helps manage the creation of the site, the management is turned over to a local steering committee, and this committee will curate the site. If they approve a nomination, they will put the information on the website in an attractive and easy-to-use fashion. There will be three main menus: Places to Go, Where to Stay, and Things to Do. Underneath each section is a drop-down menu for more specific items. There is also an interactive map that includes nearby destinations. Travelers can plan their itinerary on the website and even share it with others.

Nominations are now open and will go on until January. They will be reviewed by a committee from February to April. In May the website goes live. Jones said most nominations are accepted, and only a few would be rejected, such as a chain business like McDonald’s. All the nominations will receive a packet with a certificate, a window decal, and a web badge, identifying them as a National Geographic geo-tourism site.

What is geotourism

This is all, of course, to promote tourism in the Scenic, Wild Delaware River area, which includes places within 30 miles of the river. At the meeting at the Villa Roma, Sullivan Renaissance Executive Director Glenn Pontier made some opening remarks. He queried, how do you tell the rest of the world about our area? He mentioned Costa Rica as an example of a place that “figured it out.” Their motto is Pura Vida and their country is 50% national parks, and is identified as a Blue Zone, which is a geographic area of the world where people live measurably longer lives. “How do we take what we have, and take it to the next level?” he asked.

Jones explained that tourism equals a connection between people. The website, he said, “Is about you telling your own story about what is unique and authentic, and turning that into the tourism sector.” In fact, he frequently repeated the phrase “unique and authentic.”

Now is the time to let the rest of the world know.

Find out more

For more information and/or to make a nomination, visit DelawareRiver.NatGeotourism.com. If you need help making a nomination, contact John Beljean at 570/460-4468 or email jbeljean@npca.org. For more information about the National Geographic geotourism program, visit www.natgeomaps.com/geotourism.