A Step towards a Sustainable Tourism in Apennine Mountain Areas: A Proposal of Geoitinerary across the Matese Mountains (Central-Southern Italy)

Abstract

The Apennine mountain areas suffer progressive abandonment and marginality, although being characterized by an extraordinary richness in natural and cultural resources, and landscapes of great beauty. Therefore, their natural heritage, and especially their geoheritage, tranformed into geotourism initiatives, can represent an essential resource to support local economy andsustainable development. The present study illustrates the case of Matese Mountains (Southern Apennines), particularly rich in protected areas, including the Matese National Park currently taking off, which is characterized by a rich geoheritage, based on 59 geosites. Among these geosites, examining the specially built geosite GIS database, 16 geosites were selected to construct a geoitinerary crossing the Matese Mountains. The geoitinerary was delineated to optimally represent the major geomorphological and geological (especially geohistorical) features of the Matese area. The selected geosites were associated to a new procedure to assess their Scientific Value (SV) and Potential Tourism Use (PTU), and to confirm their suitability for the purpose. To illustrate the geoitinerary, a geoitinerary map, and illustration material such as descriptive cards were produced. As an overall result, the proposed geoitinerary represents a valuable contribution for the geotourism promotion of the Matese Mountains on which to base future studies and initiatives in this perspective.

Landscapes of the Yazd-Ardakan Plain (Iran) and the Assessment of Geotourism—Contribution to the Promotion and Practice of Geotourism and Ecotourism

“…In comparison to other regions in the world [101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118], Yazd province's geological diversity, topographical conditions, biodiversity elements, larger climate changes, and landscapes make it a natural and iconic destination for Iranian and international ecotourists [57].…”

Geoheritage and Geoconservation, from Theory to Practice: The Ghost Town of Craco (Matera District, Basilicata Region, Southern Italy)

“…And this represents a further possibility for scientific research, also, in this macro-area. In Italy, several examples of geotouristic itineraries (e.g., [99][100][101][102][103][104]), with particular attention to geopark realities (e.g., [105][106][107][108][109][110][111]) are presented with papers highlighting the high potential of sites of geological interest. Also in this context, geo aspects (primarily represented by particular scenarios and forms) represent an attraction and component of several kinds of tourism (Cultural, Educational, Bio-and Geo-Tourism).…”

Editorial of Special Issue—“Geoheritage and Geotourism Resources: Education, Recreation, Sustainability”

“…The study of Filocamo et al [11] is concerned with the enhancement of the geoheritage of the Matese Mountains, one of southern Italy's most suggestive and integral mountain areas. This mountain area shares many of the hardships and limitations that characterize other mountain regions and, more broadly, inner areas, such as land abandonment, population decline, marginality, mobility limitations, and inaccessibility.…”