Geotourism / Geoturystyka
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ISSN 1731-0830
e-ISSN: 2353-3641
Issue Date
2015
Volume
Number
No. 3-4 (42-43)
Description
Journal Volume
Geotourism / Geoturystyka
(2015)
Projects
Pages
Articles
Geothermal fields of New Zealand in tourism industry - the case of complementary assets and competitive products
(2015) Pijet-Migoń, Edyta; Migoń, Piotr
Geothermal phenomena in the North Island of New Zealand have been a basis of tourism industry since the mid-19th century. Their highlights include geysers, hot springs, mud pools, steam vents, craters, and various silica deposition features. Five geothermal sites, Te Puia Whakarewarewa, Waimangu, Wai-O-Tapu, Orakei Korako, and Craters of the Moon, are subjects of this study which is focused on interrelated issues of diversity, accessibility, and interpretation. The sites are sufficiently different in terms of natural phenomena to be perceived as complementary, offering jointly a comprehensive picture of geothermal phenomena. However, cooperation between their properties hardly exists. In promotion, unusual scenic values and record features are emphasized, whereas more in-depth interpretation is limited. There are opportunities to enhance educational components of each site, so that they can offer experience and learning rather than experience only and become fully developed geotourist destinations.
Criteria of geotourism valorization specified for various recipients
(2015) Doktor, Marek; Miśkiewicz, Krzysztof; Welc, Ewa Małgorzata; Mayer, Wojciech
The following paper presents methodology of valorization of geotourism objects adapted to meet the expectations and needs of various groups of potential recipients: tourists (casual, witting, hobbyist), educators (school teachers, academic staff, guides, organizers) and investors (owners, managers). Any geotourism object can be valorized using four principal categories of criteria: visual, cognitive, functional and investing. Each category is evaluated separately and selection of particular criteria depends on the needs of given recipient.
A geotouristic valuation of the Marsyangdi Valley in the Annapurna Himal region and its potential for the development of geotourist attractions
(2015) Łach, Janusz Stanisław
The Marsyangdi Valley in the Annapurna Himal region is one of the most popular tourist-trekking attractions in Nepal. The performed evaluation of geotourist (geomorphological and hydrographic) objects and phenomena demonstrated a wide range of forms and, correspondingly, a huge potential for the development of geotourist attractions. The structure of The Marsyangdi Valley, which is a representative of a valley region of the High Himalaya, situated on metamorphic rocks, shows the co-existence of three major geomorphic processes: glacial, fluvial and slope, which determine specific landscape forms. Since the late 20th century, the landscape has been heavily affected by anthropogenic factors (grazing, land cultivation, settlement), reaching as far as 3500 meters above sea level, as well as by the dynamic growth and development of tourism. Expanding tourist infrastructure contributes to, inter alia, the degradation of the narrow valley bottom (tourist accommodation) and to increased mass movement on tourist trails. Despite its negative effects, tourism also exerts a positive influence on the preservation of the cultural heritage (sacred sites), which largely dominate the landscape and are a significant tourist attraction. The research was instrumental in defining the Marsyangdi Valley, characteristic of a geomorphological trail, as an excellent and qualified attraction in geotourist-exploratory tourism.
Possibilities of establishing a »small-scale geopark« - examples from the area of Upper Zemplín (Slovakia)
(2015) Baláž, Bartolomej; Štrba, L'ubomír
Within relatively new forms of tourism, geotourism takes a well-established position and is developing worldwide. Hand in hand with the development of geotourism, a demand for defining different types of attractive geotourist locations or regions has arisen. Besides typical geotourist locations (geosites) and regions (geoparks), there are several areas that are geo-attractive and cover several individual geosites, but are too small to be defined as »classical« geoparks. This paper discusses an alternative approach to geotourist development by defining »smallscale« geoparks through the example of the eastern part of Slovakia, near the border with Ukraine. The area is characterized by (1) a variegated geological structure, which includes five main geological units of the Carpathians in Slovakia, where many different- type geosites are located (e.g. mineralogical, hydrogeological, volcanological, paleontological, etc.), (2) presence of historical monuments (e.g. castle ruins), (3) botanical objects and (4) wine-producing areas.
The use of the Butler Cycle and the Chaos Theory in the interpretation of the development of the Żegiestów-Zdrój health resort
(2015) Kruczek, Zygmunt
In the article, the natural conditions and natural therapy facilities of Żegiestów-Zdrój – a small health resort in the Carpathian mountain range, have been described. In the course of the analysis of the development of this resort, R.W. Butler’s model of tourism area life cycle (TALC), was applied. The analysis has revealed that that the life cycle of Żegiestów-Zdrój has no predictable, linear form, and its course is extremely difficult to foresee, as is proved by the intermittent and unstable development line. The development of the health resort is better illustrated by the chaos theory which adopts the shape of a non-linear course of events. Supplementing the analysis of the life cycle with chaos theory has allowed the author to describe the course of development of Żegiestów- Zdrój in a much more precise way. In the summing up, the chances for a renaissance of the heath resort and an initiation of a new cycle of its development have been presented. The above theories may be applied the process of interpreting and forecasting changes in other health resorts.