Geotourism MapGuide
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Northern Mozambique Geotourism Attractions
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Solimar International with guidance from The National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations is working with local partners in Northern Mozambique to create a co-branded National Geographic map that highlights the natural, historic, and cultural assets unique to Northern Mozambique.
Geotourism Site Nomination Process
 A Geotourism Field Team is traveling through the region meeting with communities and local tourism businesses to explain the principles of geotourism and establish a method to collect nominiations from the community. These nominations are used to create the MapGuide. Nominations may include flora and fauna, historic structures and archaeological sites, scenic landscapes, traditional architecture, and all of the things that contribute to the region's culture, such as local music, crafts, dances, arts, festivals, traditional celebrations, and local cuisine.
Geotourism Site Nomination Guidelines
Site nominations should reflect and support the region's character of place, while de-emphasizing destructive or unsustainable types of tourism. Local communities should identify those geotourism attributes most distinctive of, or unique to, their locales.
 A test for site nominations: "Is the spot, attraction, business, or activity somehow distinctive to our town, area, or region?" Candidates might include a national park, museum, or historic site, but might also be a private enterprise, such a family-owned restaurant serving cuisine indicative of Mozambiquan heritage, a historic hotel, or community-run craft center.
Checklist of possibilities, just for starters:
Culture and traditions:
- Food and drink, including local agricultural products and methods, restaurants serving local dishes
- Agrotourism, including traditional farming or farmers' markets
- Performing arts: music, dance, theater, including public and bar/restaurant performances
- Arts and crafts, including artisan centers, workshops, or nonfranchise local shopping
- Festivals and distinctive ways of celebrating national holidays
Nature and environment:
- Distinctive wildlife habitat, on land or in the water; great birding sites
- Notable birds, trees, and flowers; forests, rivers, waterfalls
- Links between local nature and local culture--history, cuisine, events.
- Canoeing, hiking, horseback tours, and other outdoor activities
Historic and archaeological sites 
- Historic main streets or districts
- Homesteads or plantations, especially those offering guided tours or other forms of interpretation
- Buildings exhibiting traditional architecture
Aesthetics:
- What areas have nice scenery, appealing lighting, freedom from billboards?
- What areas are most pleasing to be in?
- What towns have refurbished historic districts?
- Are there businesses deserving of support there?
Short, marked itineraries or driving trails that take in a variety of minor but appropriate businesses and attractions.
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