Characterization of the Tourist Demand of the Villuercas–Ibores–Jara Geopark: A Destination with the Capacity to Attract Tourists and Visitors

Abstract

Geological heritage has become a tourist resource with huge potential in certain areas, which has given rise to a tourism category known as geotourism which has entered the generic framework of rural tourism. The main elements around which geotourism revolves are geoparks and geosites. However, despite the recognized role which is played by the latter as a tourist resource, there is a widespread lack of knowledge of the characteristics of the demand. This study aims to characterize the demand of the Villuercas–Jara–Ibores geopark in Spain based on information provided by surveys which has subsequently been processed by means of a Geographical Information System. The results obtained allow the differentiation of various types of profile of those providing the demand according to whether we consider visitors to the geopark as a whole or whether we separate tourists (visitors who spend the night in the geopark) from visitors (visitors who do not stay there). Among our main conclusions it should be emphasized that it is only possible to establish a difference between tourists and visitors if the main motivations are taken into account. It should also be stressed that the geopark operates as an internal tourist destination for those spending the night in other regions of Extremadura.

Geoparks and Education: UNESCO Global Geopark Villuercas-Ibores-Jara as a Case Study in Spain

“…Their twin approach (geotourism and geoeducation) caters for the knowledge transfer required for instructing the general population (informal education) in matters of geology and the environment to enable them to offer a diversified tourist offer and take part in regional management plans [8,10,11,63,80]. To do so, Las Villuercas Geopark has worked within the ambit of informal education through training workshops in which approaches are made to knowledge in matters of geology, the environment, and management and has worked within geotourism through tourism initiatives [81] (museum, mines, etc.). According to Farsani et al [3] and Ruban [82], geoparks play a role that furthers people's instruction and their engagement with management schemes and plans.…”

Geoheritage and Geotourism Contribution to Tourism Development in Protected Areas of Slovakia—Theoretical Considerations

“…It is also important to note that geoparks are not national protected areas that are dependent on national laws. Recognizing the role of geoparks in sustainable use and protection of geoheritage, many publications on various aspects of this topic have been written in the last decade e.g., [63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71].…”

Water as a Tourist Resource in Extremadura: Assessment of Its Attraction Capacity and Approximation to the Tourist Profile

“…Nevertheless, it should be emphasized that there are numerous definitions of resources and attractions as is made clear by part of the conceptual literature on tourism [5,6]. In addition to this plurality of definitions, numerous classifications of resources have been carried out which aim to order them to make it easier, among things, to measure the attraction capacity they have for the demand [7,8]. This generates peculiar patterns in the distribution of supply with the consequent shaping of differentiated tourist spaces [9][10][11] and specific mobility rules [12].…”