Locals Help National Geographic with Tourism Map

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Story Published: Sep 18, 2008 at 7:28 PM MDT

Story Updated: Dec 18, 2008 at 4:00 PM MDT

By Nate Eaton

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GRAND TARGHEE, WYOMING - National Geographic held a conference this Wednesday and Thursday. The magazine is working on a project will change tourism forever.

About 40 different people from Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana are working with the magazine to compile a geotourism map.

"Upwards of 50 to 60 thousand people have been involved in this project," said James Dion of National Geographic.

Several months ago, National Geographic asked people in the greater Yellowstone area to submit undiscovered areas, people, or things to do that tourists would love to be a part of.

"They might come here for this iconic national park but the story is also the people and the culture and the communities around here," said Dion.

All those suggestions are being whittled down and they'll be included on a geotourism map.

"What we're doing is really identifying great spots that are underutilized that have capacity to take on more visitors and give them the real experience," said Karen Ballard of the Idaho Tourism Department.

Those experiences could include things like the best place for a huckleberry milkshake or where to see the mountain men rendezvous...both ideas being considered to go on the map.

"A lot of people pass through this area or they'll come and stop and see one or two things," said Idaho Project Coordinator Kyle Babbitt. "They say, 'Oh shoot, I wish I'd know I could have gone here, here, here, and here in Island Park before I even got to West Yellowstone."

The map is scheduled to be released in March 2009.

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