Appalachian MapGuide

Marietta Chosen For ARC And National Geographic’s First Map Guide To Appalachia

March 22, 2005 - The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and National Geographic Society recently released ofthe first-of-its-kind National Geographic Geotourism MapGuide to Appalachia, to be featured as a pull-out bonus in the April 2005 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine.

The geotourism map is the result of a unique alliance between ARC and the National Geographic Society to design a map that will stimulate economic development by showcasing the remarkable diversity of the Appalachian region’s natural, cultural, and heritage assets. Geotourism is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a location, including its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents. In Ohio, ARC worked through the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, Local Development Districts, and the Ohio’s Appalachian Country, a not-for-profit organization promoting tourism in Ohio’s 29 Appalachian counties.

To create this map, ARC’s state and local partners nominated over 1,000 destinations and experiences that they believe represent authentic Appalachia. Marietta, Ohio was the only city, town or village chosen in its entirety as a featured attraction out of the 22 sites chosen in Appalachia Ohio for the MapGuide. Historic Marietta was nominated last spring by the Marietta, Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Executive Director Kelly Dyar expressed excitement over inclusion in ARC’s cooperative venture with National Geographic, “it’s an honor and delight to have the culture and heritage of historic Marietta recognized on a national level for its significance in Appalachia Ohio and the entire ARC region.” Neighboring Wood County, WV was honored with two sites chosen for the MapGuide as well, Fenton Art Glass and Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park.

Following extensive research, National Geographic selected 356 sites in the region, which Keith Bellows, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler magazine, has called “an undiscovered national treasure.” Eye-catching photographs and informative text, authored by Appalachian writers, complete the two-sided map.

The companion website at www.nationalgeographic.com/appalachia features articles on Appalachia, links to all 13 ARC state tourism websites, and an interactive map of the region to assist travelers from anywhere in the world in planning their trips. It also includes links to over 130 of the sites from the printed version and encourages regional exploration. Additional sites will be added to the website during the year.

ARC federal co-chair Anne Pope welcomed the release of the map, noting that “cultural heritage tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism today. This guide is an economic development tool that will help Appalachian communities diversify their economies and take full advantage of the Region’s rich, diverse and, in many cases, undiscovered assets.”

Ohio Governor Bob Taft, ARC states’ co-chair, said, “This collaboration between ARC and National Geographic will draw people from all over the U.S. and around the world to many of the unique and significant tourism experiences that the Appalachian region has to offer. This campaign draws attention to many of the rich, diverse and, in many cases, undiscovered treasures in the 13 Appalachian states and will have a positive economic impact on the region.”

According to Travel Industry Association of America estimates, tourism is a $554.5 billion industry employing nearly 7.2 million people in the United States in 2003. The cultural heritage tourism sector has been growing twice as fast as the overall travel market, with the Appalachian region boasting six of the top 10 states most visited by travelers from this sector.

Ohio’s Appalachian gateway portal is www.appalachianohio.com/tourism.