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Harnessing GPS technology & the worldwide reach of the Internet to create new markets, enhance |
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a destination enhancement exercise |
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‘Cache In’ on a new way to promote your destination |
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The Global Positioning revolution is upon us. Through GPS technology we can know our exact location almost anywhere on earth. Now, marry that potential with the Internet’s worldwide distribution, throw in a treasure hunt and fabulous scenery, and PRESTO!, you have Geocache Tourism, an exciting way for destinations to improve visitor experience, visitor management, business integration and specialized marketing exposure. |
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‘The rewards for finding the geocache are much more than the material goods found inside. There's the satisfaction of an accomplished quest as well as the joy of experiencing the locale.’ There are over 500,000 active caches worldwide. |
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To celebrate, a GPS aficionado placed a cache of trinkets and a log book in the Oregon forest and posted the coordinates on the Internet. Geocaching was born, and within a few short months Geocaches sprang up all around the states. Geocaching.com eventually evolved as the official website to coordinate the booming sport. Today there are over 5,000 caches posted in Arizona alone.
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THE ESSENCE OF GEOCACHING The Global Position System (GPS) revolution began in 2000 when the government discontinued scrambling GPS satellite signals. |
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The Destination Challenge GPS technology is becoming an everyday aspect of our lives. Soon GPS will be a standard feature on our mobile phones, allowing for Geocache access and uploading without a computer. The sport of Geocaching, capitalizing on this technological breakthrough and the wonderful hide & seek experience it provides, is growing by leaps and bounds worldwide. THE PROBLEM is that caches at present are hidden by individual Geocachers, and not necessarily in the best locations to promote a tourism destination’s attractions in a fun, orderly, ecological and time-sensitive manner. That’s where we come in. GEOCACHETOURISM.COM specialists are tourism experts knowledgeable in all aspects of destination programming, packaging, and marketing. We create exciting geocache adventure itineraries, integrate them with local business sponsors, develop collateral promotional materials, then strategically market the destination’s new program. The Process>> |
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Cache ammo boxes or Tupperware, filled with tradable trinkets are called traditional caches. However caches can be as small as an Altoid can or a magnetic key holder in urban or high-traffic settings. A logbook accompanies the cache. |
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Coordinates can be uploaded into handheld GPS units. A basic unit can be purchased for less than $100. |
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Finding Geocache coordinates is very simple: |
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Googlemap showing cache locations. |
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In the wilds of Sedona near Chimney Rock , John finds the first multicache, an Altoids can with the coordinates leading to a spectacular hike and the main cache. |
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DESTINATION BENEFITS OF GEOCACHE TOURISM Static or dynamic, how do visitors experience your destination? Here’s the guidebook, go for it. Confusion, wasting time and energy, everyone mad at Dad for choosing wrong. Or there’s the Geocache Tourism Program, the destination GPS treasure hunt. VISITOR EXPERIENCE: Create exciting GPS itineraries designed for various destination experiences: photography, hiking, mountain biking, heritage, shopping, family fun. Or by length of stay. VISITOR MANAGEMENT: Take control of the Geocache explosion at your destination, directing visitors away from private property or sensitive areas, to the sites you really want them to see. BUSINESS INTEGRATION: Tourists aren’t spending $ when they’re wandering the countryside. Integrate “business treasures” such as geocoins or coupons for successfully completed GPS tours. Design tours to specific types of retail, such as art galleries. SPECIALIZED MARKETING: Not only are you creating a whole new destination experience, you will attract a brand new market that is growing leaps and bounds. |
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Promoting Geocaching in Sedona Read on. |
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Upon returning home, log you finds on Geocaching.com |
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GeocacheTourism is a destination development exercise, taking a product improvement idea from concept to integration through an internal capacity-building process. While GeocacheTourism is a worthwhile concept with fantastic visitor experience and marketing potential, the bigger picture is the development of innovation skills at the destination marketing organization. A specialized team will be formed within the bureau learning the core concepts of destination development and new technologies. These new skills, developed through application, will lead to a more proactive, entrepreneurial and techno-savy organization. |
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...and improve your staff |
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Cache in, |
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“To be successful in today’s increasingly competitive environment companies (& destinations) must learn to stage experiences for each one of their individual customers. We have entered the Experience Economy, a new economic era in which all businesses must orchestrate memorable events for their customers that engage each one of them in an inherently personal way.“
CREATE EXPERIENCE & ADD VALUE AT YOUR DESTINATION VIA THE GEOCACHE TOURISM PRODUCT INTEGRATION PROCESS. Find out more>> |