Geotourism - Pathways for Future Development in Australia Geotourism Workshop, Global Eco 2015

1. ““Geotourism - Pathways for FutureGeotourism - Pathways for Future
Development in AustraliaDevelopment in Australia””
Geotourism Workshop, Global Eco 2015Geotourism Workshop, Global Eco 2015
1919thth
November 2015November 2015
Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson

2. Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda
 Landscapes, natural heritage & the environment
 What do we mean by geotourism?
 Australia’s National Landscapes
 Geotrails
 Take Aways

3. 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. CCulturalultural – past & present, non-living & built– past & present, non-living & built
PartsParts B+CB+C are well interpreted within tourism, especially throughare well interpreted within tourism, especially through
ecotourism and cultural tourism,ecotourism and cultural tourism, butbut AA has typically not beenhas typically not been
addressedaddressed
Source: Dowling, 2013

4. Geotourism DefinitionGeotourism 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’.

5. Geotourism - asGeotourism - as oneone of the components of theof the components of the
many types of ‘place-based’ tourismmany types of ‘place-based’ tourism
Sightseeing
Cuisine
Agritourism
Indigenous
Tourism
Heritage
Tourism
Cultural
Tourism
Ecotourism
GeotourismGeotourism

6. Geotourism incorporatingGeotourism incorporating
all types of ‘place-based’ tourismall types of ‘place-based’ tourism
National Geographic PerspectiveNational Geographic Perspective
Boley, B.B. after Thompson, S. 2009
Sightseeing
Cuisine
Agritourism
Indigenous
Tourism
Heritage
Tourism
Cultural
Tourism
ECOTOURISM
GeotourismGeotourism
i.e. ‘experientiali.e. ‘experiential
tourism’tourism’

7. Geotourism – National Geographic Society & theGeotourism – 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 allincorporate 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 thegeotourism focuses on the
place as a whole.place as a whole.

8. Geotourism – Potential MarketsGeotourism – Potential Markets
Tourism 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

9. Geotourism – Diversity of SitesGeotourism – Diversity of Sites
GeotourismGeotourism
IconsIcons
((Inc National Landscapes)Inc National Landscapes)
Mine Sites
National Parks/Reserves/National Parks/Reserves/
Urban ParksUrban Parks
Geo-trailsGeo-trails
Geo-sitesGeo-sites
Geoparks//
PaleoParksPaleoParks
Caves/Karst Areas
Landforms
WHAsWHAs

10. Australia’s National Landscapes ProgrammeAustralia’s National Landscapes Programme
Partnership between tourism and conservation that aims
to:
 Promote world class, high qualityworld class, high quality visitor experiences
 Increase the value of tourism to regional economiesvalue of tourism to regional economies
 Enhance the role of protected areasrole of protected areas in those economies
 Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assetsprotecting our natural and cultural assets
A long term strategic approach
To differentiate Australia’sTo differentiate Australia’s
iconic natural and culturaliconic natural and cultural
destinations from anythingdestinations from anything
else available in the worldelse available in the world.

12. Alice Springs
Uluru
Red Centre
National Landscape
‘features an ancient landscape with erosional
remnants (geosites) linked to a common geological heritage’

13. Iconic Geotourism Themes of theIconic 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

14. Geotrail Characteristics -Geotrail Characteristics -
A First DefinitionA First Definition
‘A Geotrail delivers geotourism experiences
through a journey linked by an area's geologygeology
and landscapeand landscape as the basis for providing visitor
engagement, learning and enjoyment’.

16. Island of Tasmania

17. Island of Tasmania

18. Island of Tasmania

19. Island of Tasmania

20. Island of Tasmania

21. Island of Tasmania

24. Island of Tasmania

26. Island of Tasmania

35. Island of Tasmania
National Landscape
Cradlecoast GeoTrailCradlecoast GeoTrail

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

37. Flinders RangesFlinders Ranges
National LandscapeNational Landscape
Brachina Gorge Geological Trail and Bunyeroo ValleyBrachina Gorge Geological Trail and Bunyeroo Valley

38. Australia’s Coastal Wilderness
National Landscape
Geo-heritage journey and geotrails

39. Great Ocean Road National Landscape
Great Ocean Road and Kanawinka Geotrail ?

43. Grand Canyon Time TrailGrand Canyon Time Trail
Descends ~1.3km and trail is >5km longDescends ~1.3km and trail is >5km long

44. Grand Canyon TimeGrand Canyon Time
TrailTrail

45. 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 andGeotrails are relatively easy to establish and
represent arepresent a very cost effective means of enhancingvery cost effective means of enhancing
regional developmentregional development..

46. Best Practice GeotrailsBest Practice Geotrails
1.1. Should be constructed aroundShould be constructed around routes currently usedroutes currently used
by touristsby tourists; geotrails should form logical journeys; geotrails should form logical journeys
linking accommodation destinations.linking accommodation destinations.
2.2. ShouldShould meld the geological heritage features of ameld the geological heritage features of a
region with a cohesive story.region with a cohesive story.
3.3. ShouldShould incorporate and package in the biodiversityincorporate 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.

47. Take-AwaysTake-Aways
 The incorporation of the geotourism experience
(with traditional nature tourism and elements oftraditional nature tourism and elements of
other ‘place based’ tourism)other ‘place based’ tourism) creates a more holistic
experience, and is a move towards the experientialexperiential
tourism modeltourism model. In short, ‘experiential’ tourists seek
memorable experiencesmemorable experiences.
 Australia’s National LandscapesAustralia’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 geotourismbig future for geotourism particularly
given the emerging demand from overseas markets.overseas markets.

48. Take-AwaysTake-Aways
 Creating geotrailsCreating geotrails is arguably the easiest way ofis arguably the easiest way of
providing early pathways for geotourism activities inproviding early pathways for geotourism activities in
Australia.Australia.
 New ICT technologiesNew ICT technologies offer cost effective solutionsoffer cost effective solutions
of providing travellers with interpretativeof providing travellers with interpretative
information.information.
 Successful roll-out ofSuccessful roll-out of geotrails will instill confidencegeotrails will instill confidence
in geotourism,in geotourism, providing a future pathway toproviding a future pathway to
geopark establishment and development ingeopark establishment and development in
Australia.Australia.
 Ecotourism operators would be advised to startEcotourism operators would be advised to start
promoting geotourism features of their products.promoting geotourism features of their products.

49. Contact DetailsContact Details
angus@leisuresolutions.com.auangus@leisuresolutions.com.au
0418 488 3400418 488 340
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