The role of geodiversity and geoheritage in tourism and local development

Abstract

Geodiversity and geoheritage play an increasingly important role in the tourism industry, although visitors’ interest in natural phenomena is much older than these two, relatively modern concepts. This chapter reviews several key issues emerging at the interface of geoheritage and the needs and expectations of the tourism industry, both tourists and service providers. Specific themes discussed include evaluation of geodiversity and geoheritage resources for tourism purposes, problems of interpreting Earth heritage for the general public, accessibility issues related to conservation, and the role of geoparks and allied initiatives in fostering local development. More general overviews are supplemented by case studies, illustrating each theme. These are taken from various localities globally, from Europe, South America and Oceania. It is concluded that the coverage of thematic studies at the interface between geoheritage resources and tourism science is uneven. Inventories and assessments of geoheritage and geodiversity sites for geotourism are widely reported and new resources for geotourism development are commonly explored, whereas much less is known about the actual perception of geoheritage values among visitors and the quality and effectiveness of their interpretation. Likewise, the positive impact of geotourism on local economies seems to be more hypothesized or anticipated than actually demonstrated.

Contribution of Geosciences to Cultural Heritage Conservation Assessment: The Case Study of the Loggiato dei Cappuccini in Comacchio (Italy)

“…When studying cultural heritage, especially when addressing problems regarding complex materials, there is a necessity to undertake a shared, multidisciplinary approach. Within this framework, geosciences offer a wide range of competencies and specific knowledge of natural materials across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales [66][67][68][69]. Geosciences are fundamental to perceiving the fine interplay between human society and natural resources.…”

Quantifying Geodiversity at the Continental Scale: Limitations and Prospects

“…From the beginning of the 1990s, and the introduction of the term "geodiversity" (which broadly refers to the diversity of abiotic nature [1]), research related to the assessment of the natural range of nonliving components of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, abiotic products of the biosphere and, in some cases, the atmosphere, became a central theme of a growing number of scientific papers. This was followed by recognition of the importance of geodiversity evaluation to conserve biodiversity [2], for tourism development [3] and for the future of sustainable economies [4]. This has led to the conclusion that the strict definition of geodiversity and its careful evaluation are important for the rapidly expanding global economy and for the preservation of natural diversity, both biotic and abiotic, for future generations [5,6].…”