Founder & Director, Destination Stewardship Center
Consultant, journalist, and editor, Jonathan specializes in sustainable tourism and destination stewardship. He originated the concept of geotourism, defined via National Geographic as “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.” He founded and for nine years ran National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations, which continues today as the independent Destination Stewardship Center, www.DestinationCenter.org. He instituted and ran the landmark Destination Stewardship surveys published in National Geographic Traveler, 2004-2010. He speaks frequently at international conferences and is a designated National Geographic Explorer. His consulting firm is Focus on Places LLC.