Jonathan B. Tourtellot, editor, National Geographic Traveler magazine, said, “There is a second indigenous culture invisible to the visitors.”
He told Variety that in his weeklong stay on island, exposure to Carolinian culture was only limited to Managaha and the Northern Mariana Islands Museum of History and Culture.
“The two indigenous groups — Chamorro and Carolinian — are most unique to the Marianas. So, it will be great to have more exposure to that culture.”
Tourtellot, who delivered a lecture at Northern Marianas College, Tinian Public Library and at the Visitor Center of American Memorial Park is suggesting for the island leadership to promote and provide cultural experiences to the visitors.
He told Variety in an interview that Chamorro Village has to be a “living village” for it to work.
He also said the islands has many unique things that will enrich the experience of any traveler.
He cited World War II as one of these.
“Well first, you have to make sure that there are unique things. Obviously, World War II [is one of them.] and that has been done pretty well,” he said.
He pointed out, however, that the younger generation do not relate to that.
But he stressed that there’s a need to promote culture and nature.
He said he heard from a hotel manager whose hotel caters to a predominantly Japanese market that tourists clamor for more nature and culture.
“Tourists expect more nature and culture than shopping malls and casinos. This is what the conventional wisdom is to hand them. In addition to promoting it [culture], it needs to be there when you arrive. So I shouldn’t have that much problem finding chicken kelaguen,” added the National Geographic fellow who left the island Wednesday.
He suggested to promote and provide more cultural experiences to the visitors.
He explained why Paseo de Marianas isn’t “working.”
“Location, flavor, accessibility,” said Tourtellot.
He told Variety that the Paseo is walled off from the beach.
However, he suggested to develop the Garapan Fishing Base, among other sites on island that’s steeped in history.
“If you look to the traditional history of this area, the more logical place — a great gathering place that works for locals, not just something pitched to tourists — would possibly be the area around Fishing Base. That’s also where the center of activity was in historic times,” suggested Tourtellot adding caution not to remove the trees but rather work around what’s out there.
“It is a nice looking area already. I wouldn’t cut the trees,” he said.
Merced Ada, program officer of the NMI Council for the Humanities, said the visit of the geotourism expert from National Geograpic Magazine was made possible through the We the People grant.
“When we brought him out, the reason it appealed to us is geotourism focuses on the entire place — the identity of the whole place. Geotourism is looking at tourism that incorporates our whole identity. All the things that make us unique enough and make people want to come out here,” Ada said.
She told Variety that what’s interesting about the project with Tourtellot was geotourism is about residents and tourists. “As we focus on the wellbeing of our residents, tourism should be enhancing travel experience for visitors. In doing that, you are also enhancing the quality of life for your residents.”
The Humanities Council collaborated with agencies such as Marianas Visitors Authority, the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, and the Saipan Rotary Club, Ada also said.
Tourtellot, according to the Humanities Council, specializes in sustainable tourism and destination stewardship. A journalist, editor, and photographer, Tourtellot originated the geotourism concept as he was motivated to protect distinctive places.
For Tourtellot, geotourism is “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and wellbeing of residents.
The founding director of National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations helped develop with the U.S. Travel Association the 2002 study “Geotourism: The New Trend in Travel,” touted as a landmark survey of American traveler behavior and attitudes about issues and sustainability.
