The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites Regional Workshop for Europe 30 September – 2 October 2018, Palermo (Italy) Thematic Session 1: Tourism sustainability and visitors’ management. “The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The ideas and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors; they are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization”

1. Introduction
Alexandru Andrasanu
Associate Professor – University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics
Director of Hateg Country UNESCO Global Geopark / Geoconservation, Education, Geoparks /
UNESCO expert for Geoparks: missions in France, Italy, Greece, Belgium, Morroco, China, Indonesia, Japan
Initiator of the idea of a network of small visiting and interpretation centers – HOUSES (CASE)
Hateg Country UNESCO Global Geopark (Romania) 1200 kmp, 30.000 inh, History of Earth, Nature & People
12 mayoralties, 84 villages, long human history
Managed by University of Bucharest
EGN / GGN 2005 , UNESCO 2015

2. Framework - Tourism Sustainability and Visitor Management
A network of small interpretation and visiting centers (HOUSES) instead of a big visiting centre. During the last 5 years 6 houses
were organised and onthers are planned: House of the Geopark, House of Science and Art, House of Dwarf Dinosaurs, House of
Volcanoes, House of Traditions and House of Stones, in 5 communities;
Complementary stories, 10.000 – 12.000 visitors /year; Monitoring system

3. Activities - Tourism Sustainability and Visitors Management
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Houses are managed by University (geopark team) or partner associations
Support for local communities / incomes / stimulate initiatives
Guided visits / educational activities / special events & fairs
Development of local products: Andi Andezit / journey arround the world /
Volcano Day / Dinosaurs Festival / European Geoparks Week
Geocraft development – project / wool dyes

4. Lessons learned - Tourism Sustainability and Visitors
Management
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Important contribution to create a tourism eco‐destination / Decrease tourism pressure in
national park and areas of wild life / cost efficient / great interest of tourists / contribute to
strenghten local identity / volunteers can play an important role as future guides or antreprenors
II National Park area
III Buffer area
IV Inhabited area
V Main roads
I Wilderness area

5. Potential - Tourism Sustainability and Visitors Management
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Need to develop new houses (Butterflyes / Time / Plants / Ice Age / Caves / Pottery)
To connect houses with local stories and integrate them in geotrails (Dinosaurs Valley, Water and Stones, Volcanoes
Trail) / To develop new geoproducts (geocrafts) / Entrepreneurship / there is a need for new technology to be
integrated like VR and AR / Develop community centers around
Integrate all UNESCO Designations of Hunedoara County in a tourism destination

6. Future - Tourism Sustainability and visitors management
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
In the frame of Interreg Danube GeoTour ‐ Connect all house in a network
Devlop DINOSTOPS (seven, one for each dinosaur species, local producer)
Promote in Danube region as geoproducts in a tourism platform / gamification
Questions: how to increase the impact? Support social entrepreneurship?
Dinostops
Hateg Country UNESCO Global Geopark
Houses & DinoStops

7. Contacts
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Hateg Country UNESCO Global Geopark
University of Bucharest
www.hateggeoparc.ro
https://www.facebook.com/geodinohateg/
Alexandru Andrasanu
mesajalex@yahoo.com
alexandru.andrasanu@gg.unibuc.ro