Sustainable Pathways in Geotourism and Environmental Protection

Dear Colleagues,

The concept of sustainability is central to geotourism, and serves as a fundamental operating principle. Geotourism, which focuses on exploring Earth's geological heritage (geological processes, forms, formations, and phenomena), is inherently and closely linked to the ideas of sustainable development and conservation.

Sustainable geotourism successfully integrates the environmental protection of geological values with the minimization of negative impacts on the environment, the social and economic sustainability of local communities, and the preservation of cultural heritage. This approach encompasses the protection of geological formations, effective visitor education, the involvement of local communities, and the support of the local economy, thereby ensuring the long-term preservation of natural resources for future generations.

This Special Issue, “Sustainable Pathways in Geotourism and Environmental Protection”, aims to protect geological and natural heritage while ensuring long-term social and economic benefits for local communities and its visitors. These objectives can be achieved through key pathways such as the following:

• Implementation of strict management plans to protect geologically sensitive sites and minimize physical damage to geological formations.
• Promotion of local sustainable transportation modes to improve supply chain efficiencies.
• Development of systems that reduce water and energy consumption in the facilities and services that are necessary to accommodate visitors, including environmentally friendly waste management.
• Monitoring climate change impacts on geosites.
• Proposing adaptation measures to reduce infrastructural risks for tourists and residents.
• Supporting projects for the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded areas within Geoparks.
• Development and implementation of related educational programs and interactive exhibits that provide authentic interpretations of geological, cultural, and natural processes, designed to increase environmental awareness among visitors.
• Community involvement in the planning, decision-making, and management of geotourism projects to enhance pride and identity of place via heritage conservation.
• Creation of training and certification programs for local guides, entrepreneurs, and employees to provide high-quality and sustainable services.
• Geotourism accessibility to all visitor groups and the equitable sharing of economic benefits within the local community.
• Purchasing necessary products and services from local suppliers/producers, leading to employment for community residents.
• Strategies to expand geotourism product offerings beyond site-specific locations to manage carrying capacity issues.
• Business model development that allocates tourism revenues for geosite management and related community projects.
• Geotourism activity development to control demand issues related to seasonality leading to regional economic stability.

We seek contributions offering a variety of methodologies. Suitable approaches include the following: empirical research; detailed case studies; conceptual analysis; critical and meta-analysis; big data analysis; text mining; bibliometric analysis; and qualitative research. Research employing geographic mapping and other methods for address carrying capacity are welcomed. Research studies using in-depth personal interviews to understand community attitudes, as well as analyses confirming stakeholder involvement, are also welcomed. Studies that incorporate environmental monitoring and the use of sustainability indicators to measure the impacts of tourism are also desirable. In conclusion, the development of geotourism sustainability reflects the need for an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to geopark management.

Dr. Mário Molokáč
Dr. Dana Tometzová
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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