02 / 2017 / Volume 6

Geotourism is becoming a well established form of tourism based on the geological environment. It offers a new form of sustainable tourism which is more holistic then previous niche forms of tourism. However, with more people than ever visiting natural areas worldwide, the cumulative impacts of visitors on geological sites is increasing. This paper surveys visitor impacts and site management at geological sites which are geotourism destinations. We describe geotourism which is the engine driving the core activities of conservation, education and sustainable development in geoparks. We then outline some lessons learned from management in dealing with visitor impacts at a heavily visited geopark in Taiwan, a volcano in Indonesia, and a coastal World Heritage site in England. The importance of education is emphasized for geo-climbing in Spain and all-terrain vehicles in Poland. A number of site management approaches are noted including the importance of guiding as a management strategy as well as the value of a positive involvement by the local community. Finally some examples are given of the risks associated with tourism activities in volcanic areas as well as related appropriate management activities.

Anthropogenic landforms (especially mining landforms – quarries, pits, mines) have undoubtedly the great potential for geotourism development. Also, they are important from the geoconservation and geoeducation point of view as they allow to see the Earth-science features that would normally remain hidden (e.g. stratigraphic boundaries or soil profiles). However, the potential of these landforms in some case is not fully recognized and the sites themselves can even be endangered. The article presents guidelines for inventorying and assessment method for geotourism and geoeducational purposes of these specific landforms (respectively mining geosites and geomorphosites which are going to be used for geotourism and geoeducation) and gives an example from area where geotourism has not been fully developed yet (Červený kopec in Brno, Czech Republic).

Nature-based Ecotourism has been a growing trend especially in rural areas where a balance with the environment is desirable and it turns into a driver for economic and social development. An ecotourism cooperative operating in the “El Verde Camacho” Sanctuary, is an example of collaborative work between the government experts and the community. The cooperative was created with the support of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP ), developed and funded by this government office, it involved the advice of experts in the matter and residents of the “El Recreo” community. This study aimed to describe the involvement process and community management benefits of ecotourism according to the reviewed literature; a case study with a qualitative approach was defined in the Sanctuary for this regard. Semi-structured interviews were used to know community members' perception of management involvement and benefits of ecotourism. The findings show positive opinions of community residents.

This work of descriptive-explanatory nature focuses on analyzing the characteristics of the implementation of environmental strategies in the hotels chosen as a case study whose results are the most contrasting in terms of progress on the subject and which highlights the need for greater momentum to this new type of business model. For the development of the research, a multi-method study approach was adopted with a mixed methodology to the hotel industry of the state of Sinaloa through executive interviews and leaders in addition to the application of a compliance guide to eleven companies selected from the sector. Relevant aspects are taken up through a review of the hotel sector and sustainability, consumer trends, sustainability in the tourism market and the phases for the development of corporate sustainability according to the concept of some authors.

Medium-sized historical towns in Czechia have at their disposal a preserved cultural heritage which constitutes an important potential for tourism. Apart from some exceptions, these towns are only rarely a destination of tourists, but rather of the visitors who come to them in connection with a targeted stay destination, or choose them as an alternative to optional excursions just from the destination of their stay (also from the place of their permanent residence). Based on intensification indicators calculated from publicly accessible data, the contribution answers the question of what is the position of tourism in the selected towns (Czech royal towns with the population size between 10,000 and 30,000 inhabitants). Based on strategic documents it analyses what were the strategies chosen by the selected royal towns for their development and whether the topic of tourism that can without doubts rely on its historical potential, declared by legislative protection of cultural heritage, is represented and what is its importance.