““Geotourism – Pathways for Geotourism – Pathways for Regional Development in Regional Development in

AustraliaAustralia””Geotourism Workshop, SEGRA 2015Geotourism Workshop, SEGRA 2015

22nd October 201522nd October 2015

Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Landscapes, natural heritage & the environment

What do we mean by geotourism? Geoparks and Australia’s National

Landscapes Geotrails Take Aways

Environment, Natural & Cultural HeritageEnvironment, Natural & Cultural Heritagecomprises the following:comprises the following:

1. 1. AAbioticbiotic – non-living aspects such as the climate & – non-living aspects such as the climate & geology e.g. landscape and landforms: geology e.g. landscape and landforms: GEODIVERSITYGEODIVERSITY

2. 2. BBioticiotic – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora (plants): (plants): BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY

3. 3. CCultural ultural – past & present, non-living & built– past & present, non-living & builtParts Parts B+CB+C are well interpreted within tourism, especially are well interpreted within tourism, especially through ecotourism and cultural tourism, through ecotourism and cultural tourism, but but AA has has typically not been addressedtypically not been addressed

Source: Dowling, 2013

Geotourism Definition Geotourism Definition

‘Geotourism is tourism which focuses on an area's geology and landscapegeology and landscape as the basis for providing visitor engagement, learning and enjoyment’.

Geotourism - as Geotourism - as oneone of the components of of the components of the many types of ‘place-based’ tourismthe many types of ‘place-based’ tourism

Sightseeing

Cuisine

AgritourismIndigenou

sTourism

HeritageTourism

CulturalTourism

Ecotourism

GeotourismGeotourism

Core Elements of a GeoparkCore Elements of a Geopark

A GEOPARKGEOPARK achieves its goals of fostering local developmentfostering local development through a three-pronged approach:

GEOCONSERVATIONGEOCONSERVATION: A GEOPARK seeks to conserve significant geological features, and explore and demonstrate methods for excellence in conservation. EDUCATIONEDUCATION: A GEOPARK organises activities and provides logistic support to communicate geoscientific knowledge and environmental concepts to the public. GEOTOURISMGEOTOURISM: A GEOPARK stimulates economic activity and sustainable development through geotourism.

Mining Industry Land Access Issues & Mining Industry Land Access Issues & GeoparksGeoparks

Whilst a Geopark status does not imply restrictions on Whilst a Geopark status does not imply restrictions on any economic activity inside a geoparkany economic activity inside a geopark where that activity complies with local, regional or national legislation, mining industry interests are wary of:

Restricted accessRestricted access to land for exploration and mining. Geoparks or any land designated a ‘park’ alienating alienating landland beyond the boundaries of national parks. Geoheritage measures restricting access to outcropsrestricting access to outcrops.

‘‘Institutional’ Resistance to Geoparks in Institutional’ Resistance to Geoparks in AustraliaAustralia

State/Territory Geological Surveys have not been Geological Surveys have not been supportive of the conceptsupportive of the concept – exasperates land alienation.

Staff in many national parks are more interested and more interested and trained in other areas of natural heritagetrained in other areas of natural heritage.

Limited geoscience constituencyLimited geoscience constituency in government land management agencies.

Geoparks would mean a new and competing funding new and competing funding needneed – diverted from national parks.

Designated geoparks adds to the complexity of complexity of government administration.government administration.

Australia’s National Landscapes ProgrammeAustralia’s National Landscapes ProgrammePartnership between tourism and conservation that aims

to: Promote world class, high quality world class, high quality visitor experiences Increase the value of tourism to regional economiesvalue of tourism to regional economies Enhance the role of protected areas role of protected areas in those economies Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assets protecting our natural and cultural assets

A long term strategic approach

To differentiate Australia’s To differentiate Australia’s iconic natural and cultural iconic natural and cultural destinations from anything destinations from anything else available in the worldelse available in the world.

National Landscapes and GeoparksNational Landscapes and Geoparks

Have similar goalssimilar goals relating to local development, education and experiential tourism (‘geotourism’).

However, National Landscapes do not focus on National Landscapes do not focus on fostering geoconservationfostering geoconservation, but have a broader ‘natural heritage’ remit.

The Australian National Landscape Programme National Landscape Programme is currently struggling for support from struggling for support from governments.governments.

Geotourism – Establishing ‘Common Geotourism – Establishing ‘Common Ground’ with Park Managers & Regional Ground’ with Park Managers & Regional

Development Interests Development Interests There is an opportunity for geotourism geotourism advocates to engage with state/territory park advocates to engage with state/territory park managersmanagers and regional development regional development authorities authorities to determine commonality on issues relating to:

Forming partnerships with other land userspartnerships with other land users Attracting visitors, particularly from overseasAttracting visitors, particularly from overseas Development of regional communitiesegional communities Indigenous Indigenous engagement Identification & conservation of geositesgeosites Connecting landscapes Connecting landscapes through geotrails geotrails

Alice Springs

Uluru

Red CentreNational Landscape

‘features an ancient landscape with erosional remnants (geosites) linked to a common geological heritage’

Iconic Geotourism Themes of the Iconic Geotourism Themes of the Red Centre National LandscapeRed Centre National Landscape

AA: Landforms and ancient geology: Landforms and ancient geology

BB: Red Kangaroo species, and other type : Red Kangaroo species, and other type flora/faunaflora/fauna

CC: Indigenous (and European) culture: Indigenous (and European) culture

Geotrail Characteristics -Geotrail Characteristics -

A First Definition A First Definition

‘A Geotrail delivers geotourism experiences through a journey linked by an area's geology and landscapegeology and landscape as the basis for providing visitor engagement, learning and enjoyment’.

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania National Landscape

Cradlecoast GeoTrailCradlecoast GeoTrail

Flinders Ranges Flinders Ranges National LandscapeNational Landscape

Brachina Gorge Geological Trail and Bunyeroo ValleyBrachina Gorge Geological Trail and Bunyeroo Valley

Australia’s Coastal Wilderness National Landscape

Geo-heritage journey and geotrails

Great Ocean Road National Landscape

Great Ocean Road and Kanawinka Geotrail ?

Why Geotrails?Why Geotrails?1. Relates directly to the tourism experience of a

journey linking destinations.2.2. In Australia, unlike geoparks, In Australia, unlike geoparks, geotrails have

universal appeal, and do not compete with or , and do not compete with or impact on land management/access issues.impact on land management/access issues.

3.3. Geotrails are relatively easy to establish and Geotrails are relatively easy to establish and represent a represent a very cost effective means of very cost effective means of enhancing regional developmentenhancing regional development..

Best Practice GeotrailsBest Practice Geotrails1.1. Should be constructed around Should be constructed around routes currently routes currently

used by touristsused by tourists; geotrails should form logical ; geotrails should form logical journeys linking accommodation destinations.journeys linking accommodation destinations.

2.2. Should Should meld the geological heritage features meld the geological heritage features of a region with a cohesive story.of a region with a cohesive story.

3.3. ShouldShould incorporate and package in the incorporate and package in the biodiversity and cultural components biodiversity and cultural components (including mining heritage) (including mining heritage) of the region of the region through which the geotrail traverses.through which the geotrail traverses.

Take-AwaysTake-Aways The incorporation of the geotourism experience

(with traditional nature tourism and elements of traditional nature tourism and elements of other ‘place based’ tourism)other ‘place based’ tourism) creates a more holistic experience, and is a move towards the experiential experiential tourism modeltourism model. In short, ‘experiential’ tourists seek memorable experiencesmemorable experiences.

Australia’s National Landscapes Australia’s National Landscapes and many other regional areas of Australia are key ‘iconic’ ‘iconic’ places where geotourism is centre stagewhere geotourism is centre stage.

Australia has a big future for geotourism big future for geotourism particularly given the emerging demand from overseas markets.overseas markets.

Take-AwaysTake-Aways But But we must build capacitywe must build capacity into our tourism into our tourism

infrastructure – infrastructure – more regional development!more regional development! Creating geotrails Creating geotrails is arguably the easiest way of is arguably the easiest way of

providing early pathways for geotourism activities in providing early pathways for geotourism activities in Australia.Australia.

New ICT technologies New ICT technologies offer cost effective solutions of offer cost effective solutions of providing travellers with interpretative information.providing travellers with interpretative information.

Successful roll-out of Successful roll-out of geotrails will instill confidence geotrails will instill confidence in geotourismin geotourism providing a future pathway to geopark providing a future pathway to geopark establishment and development in Australia.establishment and development in Australia.

Contact DetailsContact Details

angus@leisuresolutions.com.au0418 488 3400418 488 340

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