Civilization VI Guide to National Parks: Enhancing Appeal and Boosting Tourism

Introduction: The Importance of National Parks

In Civilization VI, National Parks are a powerful tool for boosting your civilization’s appeal and tourism, making them essential for achieving a Cultural Victory. National Parks can turn natural landscapes into lucrative tourist attractions, while also providing substantial amenities to nearby cities. Here’s how to effectively establish and utilize National Parks in your strategy.

1. Understanding National Parks

Basics of National Parks:

• Purpose: National Parks help preserve the natural beauty of a tile, increasing its appeal and generating tourism. They also provide amenities, which are crucial for maintaining city happiness.
• Requirements: To establish a National Park, you need a Naturalist unit, which can be purchased with Faith starting in the Conservation civic era. The designated area for the park must consist of four contiguous hexes that form a vertical diamond shape and must be owned by the same city.

2. Planning for National Parks

Choosing Locations:

• Appeal: Each of the four tiles in the National Park must have an appeal of Charming or better. Tools like the Appeal lens can help you identify potential sites.
• Tile Ownership: All tiles must be within your territory and cannot have improvements or districts. If there are existing improvements, you must remove them before designating a National Park.
• Natural Features: Tiles with mountains, natural wonders, woods, or tiles adjacent to water are typically high in appeal and ideal for National Parks.

3. Using Naturalists

Purchasing and Deploying Naturalists:

• Acquisition: Naturalists can only be purchased with Faith, so maintaining a strong Faith income is essential if you plan to create multiple National Parks.
• Deployment: Once purchased, move the Naturalist to the chosen location and activate their ability to establish the National Park.

4. Maximizing the Benefits of National Parks

Tourism and Culture:

• Tourism Output: National Parks generate substantial tourism, which propels you toward a Cultural Victory. The tourism generated is based on the total appeal of all tiles included in the park.
• Art and Music: Consider placing Great Works of Art and Music in cities near National Parks to further boost tourism through synergies with policies and buildings that increase tourism from Great Works.

5. Strategic Tips for National Parks

• Early Planning: Start planning for National Parks early in the game. Identify potential park locations and work to preserve their natural state.
• Increase Tile Appeal: Use Builders to plant woods or remove improvements that negatively affect appeal to prepare areas for future National Parks.
• Policy Cards: Use policy cards like «Natural Heritage,» which doubles the tourism from Natural Parks, to maximize their effectiveness.

6. Combining National Parks with Other Strategies

• Conservation Efforts: Combine National Parks with city projects like the «Bread and Circuses» project to increase loyalty and amenities in your cities.
• Heritage Tourism: Later in the game, adopt the Heritage Tourism policy to further enhance tourism from all sources, including National Parks.

Conclusion: Leveraging National Parks for Victory

National Parks are a strategic asset in Civilization VI that can dramatically enhance your cultural influence and tourism output. By carefully selecting locations, managing the landscape, and using policy cards strategically, you can use National Parks to not only beautify your empire but also to drive it towards a swift Cultural Victory.