Geo- Tourism Education

After releasing the first comprehensive book on the subject Geotourism in 2006, now geotourism education is gradually emerging in  some countries but generally speaking, interdisciplinary nature of geotourism makes it difficult for easily developing. Now, geotourism education is divided into the two formal educational programmes in  the few countries, such as: Iran, Australia, and  in Pakistan.

1.     the geology programme In Iran , at Payame Noor University, Bachelor‘s degree courses on geology offer optional geotourism unit. And the Earth Science Division of the University, introduced a new geotourism reference book, written by B. Nekouie Sadry and  B. Hajalilou in 2011, in the PNU’ self-study style, for geology students.

2.     the tourism programme A. “In Australia, at Edith Cowan University in Perth, a geotourism unit is offered in the tourism programme as part of a tourism degree in a faculty of business” (Newsome and Dowling , 2010) for tourism students. B. The book,” Fundamentals of Geotourism” written by B. Nekouie-Sadry, offered for all faculties of tourism management in Iran. Samt organization  in Iran listed this book in 2009, as tourism management curriculum supplement in Bachelor and Master  level for the geography of tourism units. Also, a geotourism unit offered in the ecotourism Master programmes in Iran and recently at Science and Culture University in Tehran aforementioned textbook introduced as a  source book to students.

Newsome, D. and Dowling , R.K. (eds) (2010) Geotourism: The Tourism of Geology and Landscape. Oxford: Goodfellow Publishers. Dowling ,R. and Newsome, D.( eds )(2006) Geotourism . Elsevier/ Heineman , Oxford, UK. Hajalilou, B. &  Sadry, B.N. (2011)” Geotourism” , Payame Noor University Press. 250 p.( in Persian).  Sadry, B.N (2009)" Fundamentals of Geotourism: with a special emphasis on Iran", Samt Organization publishers, Tehran.220p. (English Summary available Online at: http://physio-geo.revues.org/3159?file=1).

Geotourism finds new life in modern era!

 Thomas A. Hose, the father of modern geo-tourism ,who defined geotourism in 1995 for the first time in the world.(Pic.Source: http://inqua-loess.org/)

geo-tourism (in modern era)is a term promoted in modern era by Thomas Alfred Hose,
And his latest definition of geotourism is “The provision of interpretative and service facilities for geosites and geomorphosites and their encompassing topography, together with their associated in-situ and ex-situ artefacts, to constituency-build for their conservation by generating appreciation, learning and research by and for current and future generations".

In addition, modern geotourism concepts promoted world widely by Ross kingston Dowling and David Newsome through publishing the first comperehensive geotourism book in 2006 and then by Bahram Nekouie Sadry this concept elevated in status as a new approach in tourism industry (namely: Abiotic Nature-Based Tourism industry),in the world ,in 2009 - further than a new niche tourism - For More details please go to the Blog Archives in 2011.

Geo-Tourism Misconceptions: “Geological Tourism” or “General Tourism" in Sustainable Manner”?

There are some questions, actually misconceptions about geotourism, and when googling geotourism, there are lots of confusing things about this term ,So I want to try to clear up for you.
First of all 'Geological Tourism is one of the multiple components of  Sustainable Tourism Industry' .But unfortunately the latest redefinition of sustainable tourism, called "Geo-tourism"by the Travel Industry Association of America in 2002. Therefore this term makes a lot of confusing things for users who finding some articles about Geological and landscape tourism(or true geo-tourism), Eventually,in my mind “ G-Tourism” or "Sus-Tourism"or even “good –tourism”,  is a probable better term for calling this redefinition of sustainable tourism in place of  “General(sustainable)Tourism”,because ,it’s not a brand. 

In fact , the National Geographic Society create a concept in its own image, so aforementioned redefinition of sustainable tourism, is not related to Geological and landscape tourism concepts and viewpoints. 

On the other hand, the concept of identity of a place , geographically ,emerges entirely on geopark philosophy and it seems that there is no need to any insisting on sustainability with coining confusing things and  words, because coining the word “geographically tourism” as sustainable tourism concepts seems to be  a  journalistic  action and It is not an academic investigation on a  new branch of sustainable tourism in the 21st century, such as abiotic nature sustainability investigations by experts in the world .
But the establishing of “Geo-Parks” with focus on geological heritage,  and on  cultural, historical and scenic values and the whole of environment and heritage in a restricted palce, is the applicable way to obtain sustainable development in some 'isolate fast growing islands' in the world.  

Space Tourism or Space Geo-tourism?

Space Tourism  or  Space Geo-tourism ?

Observing the earth from above, mentioned by the author (Sadry, 2009: 103) as a ‘Geotouristic Attraction’, and ‘‘Space tourism’’ is somewhat interchangeable with the extended geotourism to space and  the future of geo-tourism from space for general people  would be achievable with proper interpretation and facilities in space. Space geo-tourism would tell the story of our place in the cosmos and as a popular science for anyone curious about the earth science in a holistic manner with the view from above. From this point of view, the planet earth would be a big geosite for interpretation.

Sadry , BN(2009) Fundamentals of Geotourism: with a special emphasis on Iran, Samt Organization Publishing, Tehran, Iran( English summary available online at  : http://physio-geo.revues.org/3159?file=1)

The Five key principles of geotourism

The first three characteristics are considered to be essential for a product to be considered ‘geotourism’ while the last two characteristics are viewed as being desirable for all forms of tourism(Dowling,2011). 1.      geologically based 2.      sustainable 3.      educative 4.      locally beneficial 5.      generates tourist satisfaction

Dowling RK. (2011) Geotourism’s Global Growth, Geoheritage Journal. Vol. 3(1): 1-13.

Jask Region's Features, Iran ( Source: B.N.Sadry)

Jask region is located at eastern part of the Hormoz Strait.(in above map, red square), But the best place to visit some wonderful features like above picture , is available on Qeshm Island; exactly within Qeshm Global Geopark.

Qeshm Island is located at southern part of Iran in the Hormoz Strait, the largest island in the Persian Gulf. 

Find out more at : http://www.qeshmgeopark.org/

Geotourism Research

Geotourism research is a multidisciplinary activity encompassing the below items (Hose, 2003 Cited by Hose 2006) : 1.      Visitor Behaviour 2.      Typological Analysis 3.      Geo-interpretative Media Analysis 4.      Geosite  Analysis 5.      Geo-conservation  Studies 6.      Management  Studies

Hose, T. A. (2003). Geotourism in England: A Two-Region Case Study Analysis.Unpublished PhD thesis, Department of Ancient History and Archaeology,University of Birmingham. Hose, Thomas A.,:Geotourism and interpretation,In:Dowling R.K.&Newsome  D.(Eds):Geotourism-221-241, Oxford-Burlington(Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann)2006.

Useful Links

International Association of Geomorphologists:

Working Group on Geomorphosites : research, assessment and improvement
www.geomorph.org/wg/wggs.html

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Ideology's website:

   http://www.ideology.net.au/

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Dr. Mamoon Allan’ s useful website and weblinks:

A new webpage for international geotourism:

http://www.igeotourism.com/

The facebook page for geotourism issues which everbody can post anything related to geotourism there:

http://www.facebook.com/GeotourismGeologyTourism

Special thanks to our friend Dr. Mamoon Allan for sending  the above  links to us.

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Our colleague’s weblog: "geoturystyka", who  has linked to Global Geotourism Blog,  just in Polish:  

http://geoturystyka.blogspot.com/

And Polish Geotourism Magazine website :

http://geoturystyka.pl/pl/czasopismo

Geoturystyka magazine published since 2004 in Poland (in Polish & some in English)

With many thanks to our colleague & friend, Drs. Ewa Welc.

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Andrew Alden’s website  :  

Travel for Geologists  :

http://geology.about.com/od/geo_travel/Travel_for_Geologists.htm

Andrew Alden , our geologist colleague from the United States , is a science writer, photographer, editor and blogger with a lifelong passion for rocks, minerals, fossils...  who  has  recently linked to Global Geotourism Blog.

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To find out some interesting  pictures about  the relationship between Geology and Art , (potentially for tourism activities at secondry geosites), see the below blog:

http://geologyinart.blogspot.com/

and also :

 http://www.microckscopica.org/Galleries.html

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Dr. Antonio Licccardo’ s useful website ( you can find some online PhD thesis out

on Geotourism (- geoconservation), (just in Spanish with Eng Abstracts):

http://www.geoturismobrasil.com/
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Italian Geotourism Association

http://www.geotourism.it/

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http://www.baliedutours.com/geopark-and-geotourism.html

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Special issue - Geotourism in Acta geographica Slovenica website at:

http://ags.zrc-sazu.si/

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The Geotrends meeting:

held in Novi Sad, Serbia from 24 to 26 August 2010, organized by the Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad. The Programme and Abstracts of presented lectures and posters are available at the website: http://www.dgt.uns.ac.rs/geotrends.
Many thanks to our friend Dr.Bojan Erhartič for sending this link to us
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Geotourism in En.Wiki Pedia website:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geotourism

Coming events

The VIII International ProGEO Symposium The European Association for the Conservation of the Geological Heritage − ProGEO and the national organizing committee are pleased to invite you to participate in the VIII International ProGEO Symposium that will be held in Reykjavik, Iceland from 8th to 12th of September 2015. Iceland Travel Conferences Skogarhlid 12, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland. Phone: +354 585 4200; Fax +354 585 4390; E-mail: conferences@icelandtravel.is ........................................................ Geological Heritage Inventories: Achievements, challenges and perspectives European Congress 2015. The aim of this conference is to review the various regional, national and international actions that have been undertaken so as to understand how European public policies approach geological heritage. 23–26 September 2015, Muséum de Toulouse, France. ............................................................ Meetings on EGN and GGN geoparks The coming events and meetings of the European Geoparks Network (EGN) are announced on their web site http://www.europeangeoparks.org/. The coming events and meetings of the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) are announced on their web site http://www.globalgeopark.org/english/ and on Unesco's web site http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/earth-sciences/geoparks/.

Geotourism in Australia

A review of Geotourism in Australia

With many thanks to Associate Professor E. B. Joyce for sending below links via email to finding out some interesting information about Geotourism in Australia

http://web.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/Joyce/heritage/geotourisminaustralia.html

and (with some overlap):

http://web.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/Joyce/heritage/geositesofaustralia.html

and also:

http://web.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/Joyce/geology/Joycepublicationsonline.htm

Geointerpretaion

Geo - Interpretative  provision

“ The key to making geotourism  accepted by tourists is through  proper  interpretation”(Dowling&  Newsome  2006). Geointerpretaion  is  an Art of story-telling in order to give their audience really great Geo-tours! There  are the 15 basic principles of modern interpretation(Beck  & Cake  1998): 1.   Lighting a Spark 2.   Interpreting in the Information Age 3.    Importance  of the Story 4.    Provocation 5.    Holistic  Interpretation 6.    Interpretation Throughout  the  Lifespan 7.    Bringing the  Past  Alive 8.    Modern  Tools  of Interpretation 9.     Enough  is  Enough 10.  Technique  Before  Art 11.   Interpretive  Writing m 12.  Attracting Support and Making Friends 13.  Interpreting  Beauty 14.  Promoting  Optimal  Experience 15.  Passion Interpretation  preparation make understanding of geology possible for general people and bring Geology on Our Door step with proper interpretation( Sadry 2009). Also  An  interpretative strategy, such as geotourism , should generate the public  pressure  required  for  the  promotion and  protection  of  the ‘geoheritage’(Hose,2005). Geotourism’s success depends upon identifying and promoting its physical basis, knowing and understanding its user base and, perhaps most difficult but most importantly, developing and widely disseminating communicatively competent interpretative media(Hose 2006).

Beck L. and Cake TT (  1998) ‘ Interpretation for the 21st Century: Fifteen Guiding Principles for Interpreting Nature and Culture’ , USA, Sagamore Publishing, 242 pp.  Dowling, RK. and Newsome, D. (2006)   Geotourism’s issues and challenges. In Dowling, R. and Newsome, D. (eds.), Geotourism. Elsevier/Heineman Publishers, Oxford, UK, pp.242-254 Hose, Thomas A.,:Geotourism and interpretation,In:Dowling R.K.&Newsome  D.(Eds):Geotourism-221-241, Oxford-Burlington(Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann)2006. Hose, Thomas A.,: Geotourism – Appreciating the deep time of landscapes ,In: Marina Novelli (Eds): Niche Tourism:Contemporary issues, trends and cases -27-38, Oxford-Burlington(Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann)2005. Sadry  BN (2009) Fundamentals of geotourism: with special  emphasis on Iran. Samt Organization Publishing, Tehran, Iran   (English Summary available Online at: http://physio-geo.revues.org/1217 )