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Map will boost tourism
By Richard Reeder
This document was published online on Wednesday, May 07, 2008
National Geographic and a coalition of regional tourism, business and conservation organizations are creating a new guide to the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.
The map will feature top sites for people to visit in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
“Geotourism is about telling visitors what's special and unusual about the area,” the Greater Yellowstone Coalition's Brian Sybert said. “We need people to nominate things that stand out about the Yellowstone system and what defines its character.”
National Geographic has created the maps for the Glacier National Park-British Columbia area, Arizona-Sonora Desert and many other places around the world.
“The idea for the map was presented during a tourism conference hosted by the Wyoming Heritage Council,” Sybert said. “We believe this is a great tool to promote the area.”
Residents are encouraged to nominate attractions they believe make their area special.
“This involves the people who live in the area,” Sybert said. “The tourism boards of the three states are gathering information.”
The Geotourism Council will steward the creation of the map. The stewardship committee is made up of tourism, business and conservation leaders.
The Park Service, BLM and Forest Service also are involved in creating the map.
The committee isn't seeking anything specific in the attractions to be featured in pullouts on the map.
“Things like the North Fork corridor, historic architecture, landscape and activities will be considered,” Sybert said. “The pullout features will be the best things people have nominated.
“This map isn't just for visitors - residents will find it useful too,” he added. “This area offers so much that you can live here awhile and not visit it all.”
Sybert is encouraging people to make nominations online. Photos and written descriptions can be posted with the nominations.
Ashley Bruner of the Wyoming Travel and Tourism Council said they are excited to be part of the process.
“We're assisting to help get the message out about what makes our state special,” she said. “We want to highlight everything that makes this our home and what we are proud of.”
She said Yellowstone Park is a big part of that.
“It's something special to us because a majority of the park is in Wyoming,” Bruner said.
The stewardship committee will have the right to use the map on the Internet.
“An interactive Web site will result from this,” Bruner said. “That's why we want as many nominations as people want to make because we can add more things on the Web than the printed map.”
The map will be distributed free.
“The tourism council is paying to print the map,” Bruner said. “It will be available at visitor centers, chambers, non-profit groups and tourism groups.
“We believe this will provide economic boosts to areas,” she added. “Especially in the quiet seasons.”
The open house Tuesday night in Cody was the third and last in Wyoming.
The project had its kickoff April 15 in Cody and meetings have been held in Lander and Jackson. The next meetings will be in Montana and Idaho.
The entry deadline is June 20.
“Once we close the nomination period, the stewardship committee will select the best ones,” Sybert said. “Then the design process will begin with the National Geographic staff.
“We expect the map to be ready by spring 2009,” he added. “We'll have a kickoff party to show it off and get it into the hands of the public.”
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Inverse Polish logic wrote on May 13, 2008 9:04 AM:
Let's share our beautiful country with others. The nice one's may want to move here and integrate into our our wonderful western society.
Maybe some of the narrow minded people commenting should wake up and be constructive in their view point. "