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.