Resources and Its Effect on Increasing the Demand of Geotourism Sites: A Case Study of Petrified Forest Protectorate

Abstract

This paper aims to identify the role of resources (created and endowed) on increasing the demand of geotourism sites in Egypt, in particular, Petrified Forest Protectorate. A single case study was applied in this research to reach the research objectives. This research is based on a quantitative approach to obtain adequate information for achieving the research aim, the questionnaire was used for data collections. A convenience sample technique was chosen in this research. The total number of distributed questionnaires was 250 copies. The final returned questionnaires were 190 copies with 76% response rate. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 25) program was used for analysing data. The results revealed that there no demand for visiting Petrified Forest Protectorate. Also, it has attractions such as fossilized trees that help it to consider as a geotourism site. The results indicated that Petrified Forest Protectorate is characterized by unique diversity of geological and geomorphological features, Petrified Forest Protectorate has an interest to scientists and researchers, and it has an aesthetic value that may attract tourists. The results found the transportation facilities and accessibility into the Petrified Forest Protectorate is an essay, but it is due to private transportation. It showed that there is no pamphlet and brochures provided to the visitors and there is no recreational activity in the Petrified Forest Area. The results showed that there is no medical service or ambulance point within or near the Petrified Forest Protectorate. This research has a number of limitations were, firstly, this research focused on one case study of Petrified Forest Protectorate. Secondly, the literature showed there had been a clear lack of prior research studies on geotourism site in Egypt. Future research should address more geosites in Egypt to identify the resources of geotourism in these sites.