““Geotourism and Australian Geotourism and Australian National LandscapesNational Landscapes””

AESC 2014, Newcastle, 9AESC 2014, Newcastle, 9thth July 2014 July 2014

Angus M Robinson and Ross K DowlingAngus M Robinson and Ross K Dowling

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Landscapes, natural heritage & the environment

What do we mean by geotourism? Iconic Geotourism Experiences Australia’s National Landscapes Geoparks and Geotrails Take Aways

Scenery and Geology - a 1938 MusingScenery and Geology - a 1938 Musing SceneryScenery depends on land land

structurestructure - in other words, its geologygeology..

Everyone interested in the countrysidecountryside, how it has taken shape, why it presents us with the varied beauties of mountain and woodland, river valleys and fertile meadows, is, if often unconsciously, appreciating its geology.geology.

A.E. TruemanProfessor of Geology, Glascow University

Understanding Natural HeritageUnderstanding Natural Heritage

Natural heritage is the legacy of natural objects and intangible attributes encompassing the countryside and natural environmentnatural environment, including flora and fauna, scientifically known as BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY, and geology, landforms and soil landscapes, i.e. GEODIVERSITY, i.e. GEODIVERSITY..

Environment?Environment?The environment comprises the following:The environment comprises the following:

1. 1. AAbioticbiotic – non-living aspects such as the climate & – non-living aspects such as the climate & geology e.g. landscape and landformsgeology e.g. landscape and landforms

2. 2. BBioticiotic – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora (plants)flora (plants)

3. 3. CCultural ultural – past & present, non-living & built– past & present, non-living & builtParts Parts B+CB+C are well interpreted within tourism, are well interpreted within tourism, especially through ecotourism and cultural tourism, especially through ecotourism and cultural tourism, but but AA has typically not been addressed has typically not been addressed

Key Concepts – Ecotourism Key Concepts – Ecotourism

According to Ecotourism Australia, ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourismecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areasexperiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.

Ecotourism Australia believes that the ultimate definition of ecotourism is compliance with thecompliance with the core criteria stated within the Eco Certification Eco Certification Program.Program.

Understanding Geological Heritage Understanding Geological Heritage (Geoheritage)(Geoheritage)

Geological heritage sites (geositesgeosites) are places which enable us to understand the composition of the earthcomposition of the earth, the internal and external processes that have shaped processes that have shaped it it and the evolving flora and faunaevolving flora and fauna that occupied it.

Source: Adapted from Dr Susan White, AESC 2010Source: Adapted from Dr Susan White, AESC 2010

Geotourism – National Geographic Society Geotourism – National Geographic Society

& the Travel Industry Association of & the Travel Industry Association of America (1997)America (1997)

Geotourism is "best practice" tourism that sustains, or even enhances, the geographical character of a placegeographical character of a place, such as its culture, environment, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.

Like ecotourism, geotourism promotes a virtuous circlegeotourism promotes a virtuous circle whereby tourism revenues provide a local incentive to protect what tourists are coming to see, but extends the principle beyond nature and ecology to incorporate incorporate all characteristics that contribute to sense of placeall characteristics that contribute to sense of place.

Geotourism incorporates sustainability principles,sustainability principles, but in addition to the do-no-harm ethic, geotourism focuses geotourism focuses on the place as a whole.on the place as a whole.

Geotourism incorporating Geotourism incorporating all types of ‘place-based’ tourismall types of ‘place-based’ tourismNational Geographic PerspectiveNational Geographic Perspective

Boley, B.B. after Thompson, S. 2009

Sightseeing

Cuisine

AgritourismIndigenou

sTourism

HeritageTourism

CulturalTourism

ECOTOURISM

GeotourismGeotourismi.e. ‘experientiali.e. ‘experiential tourism’tourism’

Geotourism Characteristics Geotourism Characteristics

Geological DefinitionGeological Definition

‘'Geotourism is sustainable tourism which focuses on an area's geology and landscapegeology and landscape as the basis for providing visitor engagement, learning and enjoyment'’.

Geotourism - as Geotourism - as oneone of the components of of the components of the many types of ‘place-based’ tourismthe many types of ‘place-based’ tourism

‘Geological’ Perspective‘Geological’ Perspective

Sightseeing

Cuisine

AgritourismIndigenou

sTourism

HeritageTourism

CulturalTourism

Ecotourism

GeotourismGeotourism

Geotourism – Potential MarketsGeotourism – Potential MarketsTourism Industry ViewTourism Industry View

‘‘Experiential’ Experiential’ Domestic TravellersDomestic Travellers

Geologists/Geomorphologists/Geologists/Geomorphologists/SpeliologistsSpeliologists/Paleontologists/PaleontologistsSchool School

GroupsGroups

‘‘Experiential’Experiential’ Overseas Overseas

TravellersTravellers Geopark Geopark InterestsInterests

GSA GEOtouristsGSA GEOtouristsFive Five MostMost Important Travel Purposes Important Travel Purposes

1.1. Increasing knowledgeIncreasing knowledge of geological sites and landforms.

2. To satisfy my curiosity.curiosity.3. To have a memorable experiencememorable experience.4. To obtain intellectual stimulationintellectual stimulation.5. Visiting destinations offering a unique unique

bundlebundle of features and attractions (i.e. ecology, geology, culture and history).

Geotourism (Geological Tourism) - Geotourism (Geological Tourism) - StakeholdersStakeholders

GeotourismGeotourism

GeomorphologistsGeomorphologists

Local GovtLocal Govt

Flora/FaunaFlora/FaunaInterestsInterests

GeographersGeographers

‘‘Geologists’Geologists’(Various types)(Various types)

LandownersLandowners

Geol Surveys/Geol Surveys/Planning Agencies/Planning Agencies/

Park ManagersPark ManagersTour OperatorsTour Operators

Govt TourismGovt TourismAgenciesAgencies

Geotourism – Diversity of SitesGeotourism – Diversity of Sites

GeotourismGeotourism

IconsIcons((Inc National Landscapes)Inc National Landscapes)

Mine SitesMine SitesNational Parks/Reserves/National Parks/Reserves/

Urban ParksUrban Parks

Geo-trailsGeo-trails

Geo-sitesGeo-sites

Geoparks/Geoparks/PaleoParksPaleoParks

Caves/Karst AreasCaves/Karst AreasLandforms

WHAsWHAs

Iconic Sites for Iconic Sites for GeotourismGeotourism GalapagosGalapagos, Ecuador

Grand CanyonGrand Canyon, USA

16 National Landscapes16 National Landscapes, Australia

GlobalGlobal GeoparksGeoparks

Galapagos, Ecuador

The Trail of Time – Grand CanyonThe Trail of Time – Grand Canyon The Trail of Time is the world’s largest geoscience

exhibition at the world’s grandest geologic landscape

It is a 4.56 km long trail marked at every meter with 1 every meter with 1 m = 1 million yearsm = 1 million years of earth’s 4.56 billion year long geologic history

It is also supported by an electronic ‘Virtual Trail of electronic ‘Virtual Trail of Time’Time’

Branding ‘Iconic’ Geotourism –Branding ‘Iconic’ Geotourism –Ensuring a Memorable Experience!Ensuring a Memorable Experience!

Thick beds of shale and coal

Permian

10 million barren years

Tertiary basalt cap

Triassic

extinction event

Blue Mountains

Australia’s National Landscapes Australia’s National Landscapes ProgramProgram

Partnership between tourism and conservation that aims to:

Promote world class, high quality world class, high quality visitor experiences Increase the value of tourism to regional economiesvalue of tourism to regional economies Enhance the role of protected areas role of protected areas in those economies Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assets protecting our natural and cultural assets

A long term strategic approach

To differentiate Australia’s To differentiate Australia’s iconic natural and cultural iconic natural and cultural destinations from anything destinations from anything else available in the worldelse available in the world.

Benefits

Sydney HarbourSydney Harbour

Photo: D.Finnegan/Office of Environment and Heritage

Alice Springs

Uluru

Red Centre

Ningaloo

Shark Bay

Ningaloo – Shark Bay

The Kimberley

Great Southwest Edge

Australia’s Timeless North

Tasmania’s Island Heritage

Great Ocean Road

Australian Alps

Plug

Caldera

Australia’s Green Cauldron

Kangaroo Island

Flinders Ranges – Simply the Best!

Australia’s Coastal Wilderness - geoheritage tourism case study

50 km

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Camel Rock Turbidite-36.378131 150.076987These are the stronglyfolded beds of 470 million year old turbidite. Turbidites form in the deep ocean when unstable masses of sediment avalanche down continental slopes, gathering water as they go . From each dense sediment flow, sand settles out first followed by finer sediment, preserved in a single bed or layer. Undulations in the fine layers at the top of each bed record the ripples as the flow comes to rest. The mud settles and duly forms as layers seen in the turbidite rock.Linkhttp://www.sapphirecoast.com.au/6_The_geological_floor_-_the_Ordovician.pdf

What is a Geopark?What is a Geopark? A Geopark is a unified area with geological heritagegeological heritage of

international significance and where that heritage is heritage is being used to promote the sustainable development of being used to promote the sustainable development of the local communitiesthe local communities who live there.

The Geopark brand is a voluntary, quality label and while it is not a legislative designation, the key heritage key heritage sites within a geopark should be protected under local, sites within a geopark should be protected under local, regional or national legislation as appropriate.regional or national legislation as appropriate.

These Earth heritage sites are part of an integrated concept of protection, education, protection, education, and sustainable developmentand sustainable development.

Core Elements of a GeoparkCore Elements of a Geopark

A GEOPARKGEOPARK achieves its goals of fostering local developmentfostering local development through a three-pronged approach:

GEOCONSERVATIONGEOCONSERVATION: A GEOPARK seeks to conserve significant geological features, and explore and demonstrate methods for excellence in conservation. EDUCATIONEDUCATION: A GEOPARK organises activities and provides logistic support to communicate geoscientific knowledge and environmental concepts to the public. GEOTOURISMGEOTOURISM: A GEOPARK stimulates economic activity and sustainable development through geotourism.

Geopark LevelsGeopark Levels

Level Example

National Kanawinka,Australia

Regional Asia – Pacific:Malaysia, China

Global Tianzshushan, Hong Kong

What is a GeoTrail?What is a GeoTrail?► Are predetermined routes, which Are predetermined routes, which link sites of link sites of

geoheritage significance geoheritage significance or interest (possibly or interest (possibly geosites/parks). geosites/parks).

► Visitors travel by car/coach/bike Visitors travel by car/coach/bike along a along a recommended itineraryrecommended itinerary to nominated sites to nominated sites where they can participate in a range of where they can participate in a range of passive and active pursuitspassive and active pursuits..

► TheThe Island of Tasmania National Landscape Island of Tasmania National Landscape could feature an exciting new geotrailcould feature an exciting new geotrail – – CradleCoast GeoTrailCradleCoast GeoTrail

Geotourism – Establishing ‘Common Geotourism – Establishing ‘Common Ground’ with the Parks MovementGround’ with the Parks Movement

There is an opportunity for geotourism advocates to geotourism advocates to engage with park managersengage with park managers to determine commonality on issues relating to:

Connecting LandscapesConnecting Landscapes Forming PartnershipsPartnerships Attracting VisitorsAttracting Visitors Development of Regional CommunitiesRegional Communities Indigenous Indigenous Engagement Identification and Establishment of Geosites/GeotrailsGeosites/Geotrails Geoscience information & interpretation e.g. web sitesGeoscience information & interpretation e.g. web sites

Take-AwaysTake-Aways1. The incorporation of the geotourism

experience (with traditional nature tourism traditional nature tourism and elements of other ‘place based’ and elements of other ‘place based’ tourism)tourism) creates a more holistic experience, and is a move towards the experiential experiential tourism modeltourism model. In short, ‘experiential tourists seek memorable experiences.

2.2. GeotourismGeotourism, , Ecotourism and Cultural Ecotourism and Cultural TourismTourism are inextricably linked.

Take-AwaysTake-Aways

3.3. Australia’s National Landscapes, geotrails and Australia’s National Landscapes, geotrails and geoparks geoparks are key places where geotourism is where geotourism is centre stage. centre stage.

4. Australia offers a big future for geotourism big future for geotourism particularly given the emerging demand from overseas markets including China.

5. Geotourism offers potential employment potential employment opportunities for geoscientistsopportunities for geoscientists.

Contact DetailsContact Details

angus@leisuresolutions.com.aur.dowling@ecu.edu.au

Join the LinkedIn ‘Australian Geotourism LinkedIn ‘Australian Geotourism Development’ Development’ Discussion Group!

http://tinyurl.com/k8lka5g