Geotourism – good for business good for the environment

Geotourism, as if you didn’t know means tourism that sustains the environmental, cultural and aesthetic character of a locality. Not my definition but one from The National Geographic Society. I wonder what the difference is between a Geotourist and an Ecotourist?

It sounds like lots of people have a streak of environmental concern when it comes to choosing their holidays. Over 43 million Americans or about 28% say they buy products and services from specific companies that make an effort to preserve and protect the environment. However, the standard for travel companies run higher – 54 million Americans are inclined to select travel companies based on their preservation of their local environment.

A smaller group of 11% said the environment was the main issue when making decisions about which travel companies to patronize. What amused me about the article was when it discussed how the market segmented.

“The travel habits of three geotourist segments—geo-savvys, urban sophisticates, and good citizens, as classified in the study, make up the majority of the market. One in four geosavvys is under age 35, while urban sophisticates are the most affluent travelers with strong preferences for culture. Good Citizens, while older and less sophisticated, are socially-conscious travelers.”

Note the statement “one in four geosavvys is under age 35”. Why the hell not say 75% of the geosavvy’s are over 35. Anyway, whichever way you want to define the segments, it looks like an expanding area for the travel business. Dick Stroud: www.20plus30.com