Pub Date : 2025-08-07DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.003
Ángel Raúl Herrera-Gutiérrez , Cesar Mosso , Ronald M. Spelz , Usama Ismael Yarbuh Lugo , Miguel Agustín Téllez Duarte , Rigoberto Guardado France , Miguel Ángel Santa Rosa del Río
This research examined the geoheritage potential of Punta Willard, a coastal area in the northwestern region of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, with the purpose of identifying and assessing sites of geological, geographical, historical, and archaeological relevance for sustainable geotourism initiatives. A total of thirteen natural features were surveyed and evaluated using a structured methodology that considered criteria such as scientific interest, educational potential, aesthetic appeal, and accessibility. Data collection involved on-site observations, background literature analysis, and expert judgment. The results revealed a broad diversity of features, including marine terraces, fossiliferous outcrops, sedimentary formations, and cultural remains, several of which ranked highly in scientific and educational categories. The richness and variety of these features suggested strong potential for developing low-impact, interpretive geotourism in line with conservation goals. Given the rising demand for nature-based and educational tourism, Punta Willard emerged as a promising destination where tourism could support heritage preservation while fostering local development. This study emphasizes the value of applying geoheritage assessment frameworks to inform land-use planning and tourism management, particularly in regions that are not formally protected but possess significant geoscientific and cultural resources.
{"title":"Advancements towards developing sustainable practices for desert regions: Evaluating the geotourism potential of Punta Willard, Ensenada, Baja California, México","authors":"Ángel Raúl Herrera-Gutiérrez , Cesar Mosso , Ronald M. Spelz , Usama Ismael Yarbuh Lugo , Miguel Agustín Téllez Duarte , Rigoberto Guardado France , Miguel Ángel Santa Rosa del Río","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research examined the geoheritage potential of Punta Willard, a coastal area in the northwestern region of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico, with the purpose of identifying and assessing sites of geological, geographical, historical, and archaeological relevance for sustainable geotourism initiatives. A total of thirteen natural features were surveyed and evaluated using a structured methodology that considered criteria such as scientific interest, educational potential, aesthetic appeal, and accessibility. Data collection involved on-site observations, background literature analysis, and expert judgment. The results revealed a broad diversity of features, including marine terraces, fossiliferous outcrops, sedimentary formations, and cultural remains, several of which ranked highly in scientific and educational categories. The richness and variety of these features suggested strong potential for developing low-impact, interpretive geotourism in line with conservation goals. Given the rising demand for nature-based and educational tourism, Punta Willard emerged as a promising destination where tourism could support heritage preservation while fostering local development. This study emphasizes the value of applying geoheritage assessment frameworks to inform land-use planning and tourism management, particularly in regions that are not formally protected but possess significant geoscientific and cultural resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 3","pages":"Pages 440-452"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144916473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Geodiversity concept implies the diversity of natural and physical components of geology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, and soil, including their characters, assemblage, interpretation, relationship, and systems. This concept serves as an effective tool for land-use planning, integrating the physical environment in which both biodiversity and human societies coexist. This contribution presents a quantitative approach for mapping geodiversity indices at a landscape scale in the Jodhpur region of western Rajasthan, India, utilizing various spatial techniques and procedures. The selected method under the present study is based on the overlay of a grid over different maps to calculate the sum of four partial indices. The partial indices represent the main components of geodiversity in the created maps including geology (stratigraphy, lithology, minerals, and structures), geomorphology (relief and landforms), hydrogeology (hydrography and water bodies), and soil. All the partial indices are integrated to create final geodiversity index (GI) map showing the richness of elements of geodiversity and their distribution throughout the territory. The resultant GI maps can also be used as a tool in land management and can also be used for recognizing the rich geodiversity areas for their geoconservation and protection. Since, geodiversity is the foundation of geoheritage, two geodiversity-rich hotspots have been identified, especially for geopark and geotourism initiatives for environmental conservation, social, and economic benefits in the Jodhpur region.
{"title":"Geodiversity assessment of Jodhpur region of Western Rajasthan, India: A remote sensing and GIS-based quantitative approach","authors":"Saurabh Mathur , Shiv Signh Rathore , Ishfaqul Haque , Suresh Chandra Mathur","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.05.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.05.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Geodiversity concept implies the diversity of natural and physical components of geology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, and soil, including their characters, assemblage, interpretation, relationship, and systems. This concept serves as an effective tool for land-use planning, integrating the physical environment in which both biodiversity and human societies coexist. This contribution presents a quantitative approach for mapping geodiversity indices at a landscape scale in the Jodhpur region of western Rajasthan, India, utilizing various spatial techniques and procedures. The selected method under the present study is based on the overlay of a grid over different maps to calculate the sum of four partial indices. The partial indices represent the main components of geodiversity in the created maps including geology (stratigraphy, lithology, minerals, and structures), geomorphology (relief and landforms), hydrogeology (hydrography and water bodies), and soil. All the partial indices are integrated to create final geodiversity index (GI) map showing the richness of elements of geodiversity and their distribution throughout the territory. The resultant GI maps can also be used as a tool in land management and can also be used for recognizing the rich geodiversity areas for their geoconservation and protection. Since, geodiversity is the foundation of geoheritage, two geodiversity-rich hotspots have been identified, especially for geopark and geotourism initiatives for environmental conservation, social, and economic benefits in the Jodhpur region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 3","pages":"Pages 412-423"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.008
Slobodan B. Marković , Jamie C. Woodward , Miloš Marjanović , Aleksandar Antić , Philip D. Hughes , Velibor Spalević , Rastko Marković , Milica Radaković , Eldin Brđanin , Tin Lukić , Nemanja Tomić
This study examined the state of glacial geosites in Montenegro and evaluated their potential for geotourism development. The findings were based on a newly developed methodology—the glacial geosite assessment model (G-GAM)—which was specifically designed to assess glacial geosites. Seven key geosites were identified in this study due to their existing touristic value. The results showed that the analyzed sites had significant potential for geotourism development and could be enhanced with relatively modest financial investment. Furthermore, the glacial geosites offered notable environmental, leisure, and recreational value, as well as considerable scientific importance and educational potential. Given that most of these sites were in rural areas, the development of geotourism was expected to deliver positive economic impacts for local communities, potentially helping to mitigate depopulation trends. While geotourism may not have represented Montenegro's primary tourism offering, its integration with other tourism activities could have yielded mutual benefits for all stakeholders. The mountains of Montenegro had already become a major draw for international tourists, and the recognition and promotion of the importance of glacial geosites were expected to further enhance the market appeal of the country's natural landscape.
{"title":"An integrated glacial geosite assessment framework and its application in Montenegro: Inventory, evaluation, and prospects for geotourism","authors":"Slobodan B. Marković , Jamie C. Woodward , Miloš Marjanović , Aleksandar Antić , Philip D. Hughes , Velibor Spalević , Rastko Marković , Milica Radaković , Eldin Brđanin , Tin Lukić , Nemanja Tomić","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined the state of glacial geosites in Montenegro and evaluated their potential for geotourism development. The findings were based on a newly developed methodology—the glacial geosite assessment model (G-GAM)—which was specifically designed to assess glacial geosites. Seven key geosites were identified in this study due to their existing touristic value. The results showed that the analyzed sites had significant potential for geotourism development and could be enhanced with relatively modest financial investment. Furthermore, the glacial geosites offered notable environmental, leisure, and recreational value, as well as considerable scientific importance and educational potential. Given that most of these sites were in rural areas, the development of geotourism was expected to deliver positive economic impacts for local communities, potentially helping to mitigate depopulation trends. While geotourism may not have represented Montenegro's primary tourism offering, its integration with other tourism activities could have yielded mutual benefits for all stakeholders. The mountains of Montenegro had already become a major draw for international tourists, and the recognition and promotion of the importance of glacial geosites were expected to further enhance the market appeal of the country's natural landscape.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 3","pages":"Pages 424-439"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144903141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The evaluation of geodiversity assessment is essential for preserving geoheritage, enhancing sustainable geotourism, and supporting conservation efforts in ecologically fragile regions. This research aims to analyse and explore the geodiversity of Kalimpong District, India, utilising a comprehensive geospatial analysis to identify areas of major geological importance for strategic planning for geotourism. This study conducts a thorough geospatial evaluation of geodiversity in India's Kalimpong District using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the geodiversity index. Analysing diverse geospatial datasets, including energy of relief diversity, relief fragmentation diversity, geological diversity, drainage density diversity, topography roughness index, trekking routes diversity, waterfalls, lakes diversity, and soil diversity, it systematically characterizes the district's geodiversity. The analytical hierarchy process has been used to determine the main criterion's weight. We also grade the sub-criterion rank supplied by Zwoliński. The geodiversity index identifies areas with geodiversity potential. The geodiversity index aids in identifying and categorizing geodiversity zones into five levels: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. The findings depict a varied landscape abundant in geological features, with distinct zones reflecting differing levels of geological richness. Notably, the presence of very high geodiversity zones around Neora Valley National Park highlights rugged terrains and dense forests. These zones not only allure tourists but also safeguard valuable geoheritage. This study accentuates the Kalimpong District's potential for geotourism development and stresses the significance of conservation endeavors to preserve its geological diversity. Leveraging its unique geological attributes, the district can establish sustainable geotourism destinations, fostering economic growth, cultural enrichment, and environmental preservation.
{"title":"Identification of geodiversity in Kalimpong District, India: A geospatial assessment using geodiversity index and multi-criterion decision analysis approach","authors":"Alok Sarkar , Sarfaraz Alam , Prasanya Sarkar , Pulak Barman , Shasanka Kumar Gayen","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The evaluation of geodiversity assessment is essential for preserving geoheritage, enhancing sustainable geotourism, and supporting conservation efforts in ecologically fragile regions. This research aims to analyse and explore the geodiversity of Kalimpong District, India, utilising a comprehensive geospatial analysis to identify areas of major geological importance for strategic planning for geotourism. This study conducts a thorough geospatial evaluation of geodiversity in India's Kalimpong District using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the geodiversity index. Analysing diverse geospatial datasets, including energy of relief diversity, relief fragmentation diversity, geological diversity, drainage density diversity, topography roughness index, trekking routes diversity, waterfalls, lakes diversity, and soil diversity, it systematically characterizes the district's geodiversity. The analytical hierarchy process has been used to determine the main criterion's weight. We also grade the sub-criterion rank supplied by Zwoliński. The geodiversity index identifies areas with geodiversity potential. The geodiversity index aids in identifying and categorizing geodiversity zones into five levels: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. The findings depict a varied landscape abundant in geological features, with distinct zones reflecting differing levels of geological richness. Notably, the presence of very high geodiversity zones around Neora Valley National Park highlights rugged terrains and dense forests. These zones not only allure tourists but also safeguard valuable geoheritage. This study accentuates the Kalimpong District's potential for geotourism development and stresses the significance of conservation endeavors to preserve its geological diversity. Leveraging its unique geological attributes, the district can establish sustainable geotourism destinations, fostering economic growth, cultural enrichment, and environmental preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 3","pages":"Pages 372-387"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The purpose of this work was to quantitatively assess the Haidamatskyi Iar canyon as a geotourism site, draw attention to geotourism development outside of the Carpathian Mountains region in Ukraine, and further contribute to the assessment methods choice and application debate. We based our analysis on field observations and combined three evaluation algorithms, namely the Kubalikova's method, the geosite assessment model, and the Brilha method. For each algorithm, we presented results as a percentage of the maximum for easier comparison. Our assessment concluded that the Haidamatskyi Iar canyon received rather high scores with all three approaches (86.11% with the Kubalikova's method, 76.88% with Brilha's method, and 62.96% with the geosite assessment model), revealing its strong potential as a geological and geomorphological research and education site. Poor tourist infrastructure (due to the area's peripheral location) and lack of specialized promotional products highlighting geoeducational attractions of the area explained lower scores by the geosite assessment model. Overall, we concluded that the Haidamatskyi Iar canyon was a unique geomorphosite of regional and even national significance. It displayed a wide range of geological features, especially those related to weathering, fluvial, and Aeolian erosion. Its location next to a historical and cultural destination (the village of Busha) made it valuable for geotourism promotion. In the wider context of similar geoattractions in Central and Eastern Europe, our analysis demonstrated the benefits of choosing methods, which were previously applied to comparable geosites. Variation in assessment scores confirmed better reliability of simultaneous application of several assessment methods.
{"title":"The canyon of Haidamatskyi Iar in the village of Busha: Geotourism assessment","authors":"Yulian Braychevskyy , Volodymyr Korinnyi , Olga Kovtoniuk , Nataliia Pohorilchuk","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of this work was to quantitatively assess the Haidamatskyi Iar canyon as a geotourism site, draw attention to geotourism development outside of the Carpathian Mountains region in Ukraine, and further contribute to the assessment methods choice and application debate. We based our analysis on field observations and combined three evaluation algorithms, namely the Kubalikova's method, the geosite assessment model, and the Brilha method. For each algorithm, we presented results as a percentage of the maximum for easier comparison. Our assessment concluded that the Haidamatskyi Iar canyon received rather high scores with all three approaches (86.11% with the Kubalikova's method, 76.88% with Brilha's method, and 62.96% with the geosite assessment model), revealing its strong potential as a geological and geomorphological research and education site. Poor tourist infrastructure (due to the area's peripheral location) and lack of specialized promotional products highlighting geoeducational attractions of the area explained lower scores by the geosite assessment model. Overall, we concluded that the Haidamatskyi Iar canyon was a unique geomorphosite of regional and even national significance. It displayed a wide range of geological features, especially those related to weathering, fluvial, and Aeolian erosion. Its location next to a historical and cultural destination (the village of Busha) made it valuable for geotourism promotion. In the wider context of similar geoattractions in Central and Eastern Europe, our analysis demonstrated the benefits of choosing methods, which were previously applied to comparable geosites. Variation in assessment scores confirmed better reliability of simultaneous application of several assessment methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 3","pages":"Pages 360-371"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144887383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Urbanization and population growth present significant challenges to environmental sustainability, necessitating the effective management and protection of urban green spaces. Communication tools and social innovation play a vital role in protecting urban green spaces and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability. This study analyzed the effectiveness of various communication methods in promoting urban green space protection in Karaj, Iran. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 135 participants with expertise in green space management. The results showed that about 69.63% of respondents viewed the current status of urban green space protection as neutral to very unfavorable. The results revealed that social media was the most effective communication tool for enhancing awareness and engagement, followed closely by social network. Other methods, such as campaign activities and traditional media, also contributed positively, although to a lesser extent. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships between these communication tools and their effectiveness, confirming that social media and social network significantly influenced urban green space protection. These results highlight the importance of improving communication strategies and encourage further research to explore their implications in different urban contexts.
{"title":"The role of communication tools in urban green space protection: A social innovation perspective from Karaj, Iran","authors":"Neda Gholikhani Farahani, Jamal Farajollah Hosseini, Mehdi Mirdamadi, Maryam Omidi Najafabadi","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.05.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.05.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urbanization and population growth present significant challenges to environmental sustainability, necessitating the effective management and protection of urban green spaces. Communication tools and social innovation play a vital role in protecting urban green spaces and ensuring long-term environmental sustainability. This study analyzed the effectiveness of various communication methods in promoting urban green space protection in Karaj, Iran. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 135 participants with expertise in green space management. The results showed that about 69.63% of respondents viewed the current status of urban green space protection as neutral to very unfavorable. The results revealed that social media was the most effective communication tool for enhancing awareness and engagement, followed closely by social network. Other methods, such as campaign activities and traditional media, also contributed positively, although to a lesser extent. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the relationships between these communication tools and their effectiveness, confirming that social media and social network significantly influenced urban green space protection. These results highlight the importance of improving communication strategies and encourage further research to explore their implications in different urban contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 3","pages":"Pages 350-359"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144887382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.001
Luis Hernán Sánchez-Arredondo, Andrés López-Gómez, Sergio Alejandro Garavito-Higuera
The influence of mining activity in the northwestern Andes of Colombia is evident in the creation and development of various settlements, such as La Ferrería village in the municipality of Amagá, in the formation of the working-class culture, and in the shaping of the region's natural and social structures. This study explored the potential for mining tourism in La Ferrería, as a strategy to diversify the local economy and preserve mining heritage. Through surveys of local communities, interviews, and the analysis of historical documents, information was gathered regarding community perceptions, the condition of mining heritage, and opportunities for mining tourism development as a specialized form of geotourism for the region. The results indicate significant potential for mining tourism development, but challenges related to heritage conservation, infrastructure, and training were also identified. It is concluded that mining tourism can be an effective tool for the economic and social revitalization of the southwestern Antioquia region, specifically La Ferrería village, provided that an integrated management plan is implemented that involves the local community and addresses environmental and social challenges.
{"title":"Exploration of mining heritage and evaluation of mining tourism potential in the La Ferrería village, mining territory of the municipality of Amagá, in the northwestern Colombian Andes","authors":"Luis Hernán Sánchez-Arredondo, Andrés López-Gómez, Sergio Alejandro Garavito-Higuera","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The influence of mining activity in the northwestern Andes of Colombia is evident in the creation and development of various settlements, such as La Ferrería village in the municipality of Amagá, in the formation of the working-class culture, and in the shaping of the region's natural and social structures. This study explored the potential for mining tourism in La Ferrería, as a strategy to diversify the local economy and preserve mining heritage. Through surveys of local communities, interviews, and the analysis of historical documents, information was gathered regarding community perceptions, the condition of mining heritage, and opportunities for mining tourism development as a specialized form of geotourism for the region. The results indicate significant potential for mining tourism development, but challenges related to heritage conservation, infrastructure, and training were also identified. It is concluded that mining tourism can be an effective tool for the economic and social revitalization of the southwestern Antioquia region, specifically La Ferrería village, provided that an integrated management plan is implemented that involves the local community and addresses environmental and social challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 274-289"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144271988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-06-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.002
Sergio Muíño Freire , Begoña Muíño Sar
Smart tourism planning and management emerges as a fundamental pillar for the sustainable development of tourist destinations. In this context, the aim of this research is to deepen the knowledge of tourism in the Cabo Ortegal UNESCO Global Geopark, specifically in relation to the profile of visitors, tourism demand and the potential for implementing a tourism intelligence network in the territory. The methodology used for its achievement is mixed, as it employs quantitative and qualitative techniques, using surveys, in-depth interviews, applications of digital tools, and a content study. The results are a novel and original contribution to the territory with the identification of the visitors' profiles of San Andrés de Teixido and their behaviour within the geopark. In turn, the creation of a data collection model for the tourist office of Cedeira allows to iniciate a network of intelligence and knowledge between the municipalities of the geopark.
{"title":"Tourism intelligence in the Cabo Ortegal UNESCO Global Geopark: Case of San Andrés de Teixido","authors":"Sergio Muíño Freire , Begoña Muíño Sar","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.03.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Smart tourism planning and management emerges as a fundamental pillar for the sustainable development of tourist destinations. In this context, the aim of this research is to deepen the knowledge of tourism in the Cabo Ortegal UNESCO Global Geopark, specifically in relation to the profile of visitors, tourism demand and the potential for implementing a tourism intelligence network in the territory. The methodology used for its achievement is mixed, as it employs quantitative and qualitative techniques, using surveys, in-depth interviews, applications of digital tools, and a content study. The results are a novel and original contribution to the territory with the identification of the visitors' profiles of San Andrés de Teixido and their behaviour within the geopark. In turn, the creation of a data collection model for the tourist office of Cedeira allows to iniciate a network of intelligence and knowledge between the municipalities of the geopark.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 290-305"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144272019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The impact of poorly managed tourism activities could undermine the global geodiversity of an area. To avoid this, the formulation of geoconservation strategies by identifying geosensitivity is necessary. The Darjeeling Hill region is characterized by a rich geodiversity and is facing severe threats with increasing tourism and depleting physical as well as cultural landscape. The main aim of this paper is to identify the geodiversity threats in this hill region by applying an integrated method of geosensitivity index (SI) based on geodiversity index (GI) and threat index (TI) which would be useful for the formulation of regional geoconservation strategies. The GI has been calculated using the sum of four sub-indices: geological diversity, geomorphological diversity, pedological diversity, and hydrological diversity, whereas the TI is based upon the summation of three sub-indices: land protection index, degradation index, and land use index. In the study area, five zones of geosensitivity have been demarcated: very high (8%), high (11%), moderate (20%), low (28%), and very low (33%). The finding identifies the geoconservation necessities using the calculated and mapped association between landslide intensity and geosensitive zones. It indicates that geosites like Giddhapahar, Paglajhora waterfall, Bokshi waterfall, Kaljhani cave, etc. within the very high and high geosensitive zones need the geodiversity protection through appropriate territorial geoconservation planning.
{"title":"Geosensitivity assessment for the formulation of geoconservation strategies in the Darjeeling Hill region, India","authors":"Pubali Dutta, Uttam Kumar Mandal, Raja Paramanik, Bivek Subba, Lakpa Tamang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2025.02.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The impact of poorly managed tourism activities could undermine the global geodiversity of an area. To avoid this, the formulation of geoconservation strategies by identifying geosensitivity is necessary. The Darjeeling Hill region is characterized by a rich geodiversity and is facing severe threats with increasing tourism and depleting physical as well as cultural landscape. The main aim of this paper is to identify the geodiversity threats in this hill region by applying an integrated method of geosensitivity index (SI) based on geodiversity index (GI) and threat index (TI) which would be useful for the formulation of regional geoconservation strategies. The GI has been calculated using the sum of four sub-indices: geological diversity, geomorphological diversity, pedological diversity, and hydrological diversity, whereas the TI is based upon the summation of three sub-indices: land protection index, degradation index, and land use index. In the study area, five zones of geosensitivity have been demarcated: very high (8%), high (11%), moderate (20%), low (28%), and very low (33%). The finding identifies the geoconservation necessities using the calculated and mapped association between landslide intensity and geosensitive zones. It indicates that geosites like Giddhapahar, Paglajhora waterfall, Bokshi waterfall, Kaljhani cave, etc. within the very high and high geosensitive zones need the geodiversity protection through appropriate territorial geoconservation planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 319-333"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144279349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Natural and anthropogenic processes may deteriorate the integrity of geotourism resources. Thus, one of the top concerns in developing geoconservation measures is determining how risky geosites are for degradation. Although studies have made significant contributions to the literature, they also introduce a fundamental problem of objectivity. In particular, evaluators continue to discuss the objectivity problem caused by hesitant, uncertain, and ambiguous information while evaluating geosites. This study quantifies the risk of degradation of geosites using multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques integrated into fuzzy environments. For this purpose, we used multi attributive ideal-real comparative analysis (MAIRCA) methods based on spherical fuzzy environments in addition to the level based weight assessment (LBWA) technique. We tested this proposed methodology as a case study on twenty geosites selected from the Kula-Salihli UNESCO Global Geopark (KSUGGp) in Türkiye. According to the analysis, we observed significant differences between traditional geosite evaluation approaches and the proposed approach in weighting the criteria and ranking the risk levels of geosites. We expect the proposed approach to make a methodological contribution that can form the basis for the geosite evaluation literature.
{"title":"Measuring degradation risk levels of resources in sustainable geotourism development: A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) approach under spherical fuzzy environments","authors":"Kuttusi Zorlu , Selahattin Polat , Volkan Dede , Ali Yılmaz","doi":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2024.11.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijgeop.2024.11.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural and anthropogenic processes may deteriorate the integrity of geotourism resources. Thus, one of the top concerns in developing geoconservation measures is determining how risky geosites are for degradation. Although studies have made significant contributions to the literature, they also introduce a fundamental problem of objectivity. In particular, evaluators continue to discuss the objectivity problem caused by hesitant, uncertain, and ambiguous information while evaluating geosites. This study quantifies the risk of degradation of geosites using multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques integrated into fuzzy environments. For this purpose, we used multi attributive ideal-real comparative analysis (MAIRCA) methods based on spherical fuzzy environments in addition to the level based weight assessment (LBWA) technique. We tested this proposed methodology as a case study on twenty geosites selected from the Kula-Salihli UNESCO Global Geopark (KSUGGp) in Türkiye. According to the analysis, we observed significant differences between traditional geosite evaluation approaches and the proposed approach in weighting the criteria and ranking the risk levels of geosites. We expect the proposed approach to make a methodological contribution that can form the basis for the geosite evaluation literature.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36117,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks","volume":"13 2","pages":"Pages 250-273"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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