For the third time since 2010, National Geographic has highlighted Jasper as a must-see destination.
Most recently, the Icefields Parkway, from Jasper to Banff, is named in 50 Places of a Lifetime: Canada鈥攖he first-ever 鈥渄igital super mag鈥� produced by the media icon.
The online magazine that showcases new content from every Canadian province and territory launched Oct. 1, with the Parkway listed with 14 other destinations under the header 鈥淲ild Spaces: Wonders of the Outdoors.鈥�
鈥淭o be recognized by such a global media icon is priceless,鈥� said Mary Darling, CEO of Tourism Jasper. 鈥淲hat this is doing is it鈥檚 really, truly cementing Jasper National Park on the world map. It鈥檚 putting us out there and identifying that we are a place you need to come and visit.鈥�
The list of places was selected by National Geographic鈥檚 editorial team, who was sent on a trip from coast-to-coast-to-coast to find the most spectacular places in the country.
鈥淜eith Bellows, [editor-in-chief of National Geographic Traveler] sent out his editorial team, his writers and his photojournalists, to be on assignment, but also to look for unique perspectives of our country that would even surprise us as Canadians,鈥� explained Will Harding, manager of integrated marketing communications for the Canadian Tourism Commission, who partnered with National Geographic to promote the list.
鈥淭he decision about who made the top 50 really was an editorial decision that National Geographic oversaw and we think they did a great job.鈥�
From a marketing perspective, being on the list 鈥渁lmost guarantees you access to eyes that are in markets around the world,鈥� said Harding.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just North Americans that are in love with National Geographic, it鈥檚 Asians, Europeans, everybody loves this publication, loves this brand.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great coverage like this, a combination of editorial and images and practical information that really ignites the imagination of visitors and will actually get them to book a trip to Canada.鈥�
This is Jasper鈥檚 third time on a National Geographic list since 2010.
The Icefields Parkway was included on the Drives of a Lifetime list and in August Jasper was listed as No. 16 on the magazine鈥檚 list of the World鈥檚 Most Beautiful Places.
鈥淭o be consistently recognized by such a global media icon is phenomenal,鈥� said Darling. 鈥淭his is a reminder to our community that we do have something special here and we are being internationally recognized as being unique, authentic and a must visit place.鈥�
As well as the existing coverage, which can be found at nationalgeographic.com/canada50, there will be additional features added throughout the month of October, including 鈥渇avourite place鈥� submissions from readers. Readers also have an opportunity to nominate their favorite Canadian location until Oct. 31 and the top entries will be posted online next month.
To engage further, there is also a hashtag for Twitter and Instagram, #Canada50.
鈥淎s proud Jasperites,鈥� suggested Darling, 鈥渋t鈥檚 our opportunity to get out there and continue to show why Jasper is so special and why we are so breathtaking.
鈥淏y using that hashtag of #Canada50 with #MyJasper, we鈥檒l have an opportunity to continue to show the world all the other beautiful places in Jasper National Park that the magazine hasn鈥檛 had a chance to highlight yet.鈥�
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
