Geotourism

Geotourism (abiotic nature-based tourism), a new approach

According to Sadry (2009), in the past, nature-based tourism activities largely focused on living things (namely biotic nature attractions/biodiversity phenomena).As a result, visiting natural areas and their unique flora and fauna, gradually led to the development of ecotourism, wildlife tourism, and other similar tourism types. Recently, in the 21st century, geotourism has emerged to deal with non-living parts of the natural environment. Geological features and landforms are examples of abiotic nature or geodiversity phenomena.

Geotourism adds to ecotourism's principal focus on plants (flora) and animals (fauna) by adding a third dimension to the abiotic environment. Thus it is growing around the world through the growth of geoparks as well as independently in many natural and urban areas where tourism focus in on the geological environment.

"Looking at the environment in a simplistic manner, we see that it is made up of Abiotic, Biotic and Cultural (ABC) attributes. Starting with the 'C' or cultural component first, we note that of three features it is this one which is generally the most known and interpreted, that is, through information about the built or cultural environment either in the past (historical accounts) or present (community customs and culture). The 'B' or biotic features of fauna (animals) and flora (plants) has seen a large focus of interpretation and understanding through ecotourism. But it is the first attribute of the 'A' or abiotic features including rocks, landforms and processes that has received the least attention in tourism, and consequently is the least known and understood. This holistic approach to tourism is growing rapidly around the world and It is powering UNESCO Global Geoparks which are now on virtually every continent This then is the real power of geotourism, in that it puts the tourist spotlight firmly on geology, and brings it to the forefront of our understanding through tourism".

Comparison with ecotourism

Geotourism is often confused with ecotourism, due to close definitions of the terms. Geotourism is geodiversity-centred while ecotourism is biodiversity-centred. Geotourism activities focus on providing the recreation geology contexts for visitors. Three core elements within the concept of geotourism have been recognised that distinguish this concept from ecotourism, namely: 1. Abiotic nature as the main attraction;2. Geological heritage interpretation; and 3. Positive outcomes for nature and local residents Geotourism is a sister category to ecotourism. Geotourism is distinguished to be focused on abiotic nature and built environments dealing with geology and geomorphology while ecotourism is focused on the living nature dealing with ecology and living things.

Sectors

Geotourism encompasses a wide range of sectors, reflecting the diversity of geological and geomorphological features that attract visitors worldwide. These sectors vary from urban and rural settings to specialised niches such as volcanic, celestial, and space geotourism. The following list outlines the main sectors currently recognised in the field.Geotourism sectors include:

• Urban
• Rural
• Roadcuts
• Dinosaurs
• Meteorites
• Aerial
• Volcanoes
• Wellness
• Mining
• Celestial
• Space
• Adventure
• Accessible
• Underground

Geotourism Marketing

Geotourism stakeholders are the local people, geo-visitors, travel agencies, business owners, etc., just like the tourism stakeholders. Schools and universities could also be considered as stakeholders in geotourism when discussing geopark development. Marketing strategies practiced in UNESCO Global Geoparks include professional internal and external marketing tools such as brochures, magazines, newsletters, websites, social media platforms; as well as public relation activities, such as participating trade shows; advertising campaigns and even joint marketing through networking on regional, national, and international level. Since geotourism emphasizes the abiotic nature, environmental protection, and the local community, it is important that destinations, such as geoparks, focus their marketing efforts for geotourism in a sustainable manner; so that, the environment including the geoheritages and the local community would benefit most.

Geosites

A geosite is a location that has a particular geological or geomorphological significance. As well as its inherent geological characteristics it may also have cultural or heritage significance. Geosites, geological or geomorphological sites with a recognised value determined through an audit, assessment, and selection process, are subject to a range of threats (Prosser et al., 2018).

The Example of Geotourism

All UNESCO Global Geoparks and national geoparks around the world and all geotourism sites such as historical mines, caves, and... are manifestations of the geotourism industry.

Geodiversity

Geodiversity is the variety of earth materials, forms, and processes that constitute and shape the Earth, either the whole or a specific part of it. The term geodiversity is strongly linked to other neologisms such as geoconservation, geoheritage or even geo-indicators. All these terms promote the idea that human activities threaten the diversity of rocks, soils, and landforms as well as the dynamics of the processes that generate them.

Geotrails

According to the Geological Society of Australia, a geotrail "delivers geotourism experiences through a journey linked by an area's geology and landscape as the basis for providing visitor engagement, learning and enjoyment". Geotrail definition is ‘A guided or self-guided trail of multiple geosites that interprets geology and landscape’.

Geoparks

A geopark is a unified area that advances the protection and use of geological heritage in a sustainable way, and promotes the economic well-being of the people who live there. Geotourism has been developed from an unknown niche trend to an approach in the tourism industry since 2004, due to the UNESCO support for the global geopark movement in the 21st century. The potential activities within geoparks ranging from visiting cultural heritage to natural attractions, agriculture, and even dark tourism.

Geoconservation

Geoconservation is the practice of recognising, protecting and managing sites and landscapes which have value for their geology or geomorphology. Geoconservation is carried out by a wide range of organisations from local geological societies to government agencies. Typically the conservation of geodiversity at a site or within a landscape takes place alongside that of biodiversity.

Sustainable Practices and Community Impact in Geotourism

Geotourism emphasizes the conservation and appreciation of a region's geological features while typically fostering sustainable tourism practices. One notable aspect of geotourism is its integration with eco-tourism principles, often promoting both the preservation of unique geological formations but also the education and engagement of visitors. For example, UNESCO Global Geoparks play a vital role in geotourism by serving as hubs for scientific research, local cultural preservation, and community-led development. These parks highlight geological heritage through interpretive centers, guided tours, and interactive exhibits that connect visitors to the Earth's history.

Additionally, geotourism contributes to the socio-economic well-being of local communities. By creating opportunities for small-scale enterprises, such as eco-lodges, craft markets, and guided trekking experiences, geotourism empowers residents to sustain their livelihoods while protecting natural resources . This tourism model also addresses environmental challenges by often encouraging low-impact practices like renewable energy use and waste reduction in tourist operations, ensuring the long-term viability of geosites for future generations .