““Geotourism - Pathways for Future Geotourism - Pathways for Future Development in AustraliaDevelopment in Australia””

Geotourism Workshop, Global Eco 2015Geotourism Workshop, Global Eco 20151919thth November 2015 November 2015

Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Landscapes, natural heritage & the environment

What do we mean by geotourism?

Australia’s National Landscapes

Geotrails

Take Aways

Environment, Natural & Cultural HeritageEnvironment, Natural & Cultural Heritage

comprises the following:comprises the following:

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

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

3. 3. CCultural ultural – past & present, non-living & built– past & present, non-living & built

Parts Parts B+CB+C are well interpreted within tourism, especially through are well interpreted within tourism, especially through ecotourism and cultural tourism, ecotourism and cultural tourism, but but AA has typically not been has typically not been addressedaddressed

Source: Dowling, 2013

Geotourism Definition Geotourism Definition

‘Geotourism is 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 the of the components of the many types of ‘place-based’ tourismmany types of ‘place-based’ tourism

Sightseeing

Cuisine

AgritourismIndigenousTourism

HeritageTourism

CulturalTourism

Ecotourism

GeotourismGeotourism

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

AgritourismIndigenousTourism

HeritageTourism

CulturalTourism

ECOTOURISM

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

Geotourism – National Geographic Society & the Geotourism – National Geographic Society & the

Travel Industry Association of America (1997)Travel Industry Association of 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 all incorporate all characteristics that contribute to sense of placecharacteristics that contribute to sense of place.

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

Geotourism – Potential MarketsGeotourism – Potential MarketsTourism Industry ViewTourism Industry View

‘‘Experiential’ Experiential’ Domestic TravellersDomestic Travellers

Geologists/Geomorphologists/SpeliologistsGeologists/Geomorphologists/Speliologists/Paleontologists/Paleontologists

School GroupsSchool Groups

‘‘Experiential’ Experiential’ Overseas TravellersOverseas Travellers

Geopark InterestsGeopark Interests

Geotourism – Diversity of SitesGeotourism – Diversity of Sites

GeotourismGeotourism

IconsIcons

((Inc National Landscapes)Inc National Landscapes)

Mine SitesNational Parks/Reserves/National Parks/Reserves/

Urban ParksUrban Parks

Geo-trailsGeo-trails

Geo-sitesGeo-sites

Geoparks//PaleoParksPaleoParks

Caves/Karst Areas

Landforms

WHAsWHAs

Australia’s National Landscapes ProgrammeAustralia’s National Landscapes ProgrammePartnership 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.

Alice Springs

Uluru

Red CentreNational Landscape

‘features an ancient landscape with erosional remnants (geosites) linked to a common geological heritage’

Iconic Geotourism Themes of the Iconic Geotourism Themes of the Red Centre National LandscapeRed Centre National Landscape

AA: Landforms and ancient geology: Landforms and ancient geology

BB: Red Kangaroo species, and other type : Red Kangaroo species, and other type flora/faunaflora/fauna

CC: Indigenous (and European) culture: Indigenous (and European) culture

Geotrail Characteristics -Geotrail Characteristics -

A First Definition A First Definition

‘A Geotrail delivers geotourism experiences through a journey linked by an area's geology geology and landscapeand landscape as the basis for providing visitor engagement, learning and enjoyment’.

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania National Landscape

Cradlecoast GeoTrailCradlecoast GeoTrail

‘‘The Living Earth’ – Cradle Coast GeotrailThe Living Earth’ – Cradle Coast Geotrail

Flinders Ranges Flinders Ranges National LandscapeNational Landscape

Brachina Gorge Geological Trail and Bunyeroo ValleyBrachina Gorge Geological Trail and Bunyeroo Valley

Australia’s Coastal Wilderness National Landscape

Geo-heritage journey and geotrails

Great Ocean Road National Landscape

Great Ocean Road and Kanawinka Geotrail ?

Grand Canyon Time TrailGrand Canyon Time TrailDescends ~1.3km and trail is >5km longDescends ~1.3km and trail is >5km long

Grand Canyon Time Grand Canyon Time TrailTrail

Why Geotrails?Why Geotrails?

1. Relates directly to the tourism experience of a journey linking destinations.

2.2. In Australia, unlike geoparks, In Australia, unlike geoparks, geotrails have widespread appeal, and do not compete with or , and do not compete with or impact on land management/access issues.impact on land management/access issues.

3.3. Geotrails are relatively easy to establish and Geotrails are relatively easy to establish and represent a represent a very cost effective means of enhancing very cost effective means of enhancing regional developmentregional development..

Best Practice GeotrailsBest Practice Geotrails

1.1. Should be constructed around Should be constructed around routes currently used routes currently used by touristsby tourists; geotrails should form logical journeys ; geotrails should form logical journeys linking accommodation destinations.linking accommodation destinations.

2.2. Should Should meld the geological heritage features of a meld the geological heritage features of a region with a cohesive story.region with a cohesive story.

3.3. ShouldShould incorporate and package in the biodiversity incorporate and package in the biodiversity and cultural components (including mining heritage) and cultural components (including mining heritage) of the region through which the geotrail traverses.of the region through which the geotrail traverses.

Take-AwaysTake-Aways

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

Australia’s National Landscapes Australia’s National Landscapes and many other regional areas of Australia are key ‘iconic’ ‘iconic’ places where geotourism is centre stagewhere geotourism is centre stage.

Australia has a big future for geotourism big future for geotourism particularly given the emerging demand from overseas markets.overseas markets.

Take-AwaysTake-Aways

Creating geotrails Creating geotrails is arguably the easiest way of is arguably the easiest way of providing early pathways for geotourism activities in providing early pathways for geotourism activities in Australia.Australia.

New ICT technologies New ICT technologies offer cost effective solutions offer cost effective solutions of providing travellers with interpretative of providing travellers with interpretative information.information.

Successful roll-out of Successful roll-out of geotrails will instill confidence geotrails will instill confidence in geotourism,in geotourism, providing a future pathway to providing a future pathway to geopark establishment and development in geopark establishment and development in Australia.Australia.

Ecotourism operators would be advised to start Ecotourism operators would be advised to start promoting geotourism features of their products.promoting geotourism features of their products.

Contact DetailsContact Details

angus@leisuresolutions.com.auangus@leisuresolutions.com.au

0418 488 3400418 488 340

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