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The Ruta del Oro Geopark project proposal presents a wide range of interest sites, mainly geological and mining. This allows them to be promoted as tourist itineraries (e.g., georoutes). During tourist visits to the geosites, there must be monitoring to guarantee non-environmental degradation, geoconservation, and economic and social sustainability. Therefore, this work aims to conduct an environmental and tourism carrying capacity assessment of six geosites within the Ruta del Oro Geopark project through a modified cause-effect method for the sustainable strengthening and optimal use of geotourism. The methodology consisted of selecting geosites of high interest within the Ruta del Oro Geopark (El Sexmo mine, Zaruma-Urcu hill, El Calvario hill, Portovelo hot springs, El Chimbo waterfall, and Salvias River) to carry out a geoenvironmental and tourism carrying capacity assessment. This evaluation served to propose geotourism sustainability strategies as a tool for decision-makers. Eight environmental aspects are classified as favorable, highlighting the visual element, social recreation, and cultural symbol. In comparison, there are four unfavorable aspects, the main one being the impact on flora and fauna. Within the carrying capacity assessment, visitor numbers vary between 518 − 99 per day, with the El Sexmo mine standing out for its adequate geotourism sites. The analysis and evaluation allowed us to propose improvement strategies to promote and make optimal use of the geosites based on geotourism, geoeducation, and geoconservation pillars. A fundamental axis is the governmental participation through plans that motivate awareness and sustainable tourism, as well as geocommunication of the unique values of each geosite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mapping optimal areas for finding geomorphosites in large areas is a complex task influenced by various factors. To address this challenge, the present study assesses the effectiveness of three widely used machine learning classifiers in identifying and mapping potential areas for geomorphosite, a crucial factor for attracting and enhancing geotourism in Ziz, southeast Morocco. Initially, a comprehensive inventory of 120 geomorphosites was conducted in the study area. At each site, precise measurements of three topographical parameters were taken. Following this, three machine learning algorithms, namely Random Forest, Multi-Layer Perceptron, and M5 Prime, were utilized to create predictive models. Regarding the model performance, the Multi-Layer Perceptron model achieved the highest performance with an area under the curve of 0.91, followed by the M5 Prime model with 0.77. These models identified highly favorable areas, which accounted for approximately 60% and 42% of the study area according to Multi-Layer Perceptron and M5 Prime, respectively. These areas were predominantly located in the western region, characterized by mountainous terrain with relatively shorter slope lengths and altitudes ranging between 2500 m and 3500 m. This research serves as a valuable roadmap for decision-makers, offering guidance on how to improve the likelihood of discovering geomorphosites while minimizing costs and reducing the time required for exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing tourism diversity and spreading it over a year is becoming prominent for local and regional economies. Among the various tourism sites in Türkiye, Muğla province has always been one of the most attractive summer tourism areas. Besides this, it also hosts numerous places of natural, historical, archeological, geological, and geomorphological values which enable year-long tourism and contribute to the sustainability and development of the regional economy. In this respect, the Carian Trail, very famous for walking over 800 km in natural beauty is selected in this study as a georoute to be promoted for its geotourism potential by its scientific, educational, cultural and ecological values. To achieve this, an inventory was created that includes geological, geomorphological, and geological heritage values, along with other key features. The inventory and characterization stage is followed by qualitative & semiquantitative approaches. As the first study on such assessments for the Carian Trail, this study highlights the need to evaluate each site individually in order to develop strategies and policies for geoconservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid development of geoparks has led to a growing global interest in geoheritage resources. The geodiversity of Taihu Xishan National Geopark, coupled with its ecological resources and rich cultural heritage, forms a solid foundation for the advancement of geotourism and geopark development. Nonetheless, it is imperative for the geopark to consistently tackle the challenges related to uneven geoheritage protection and insufficient planning for geotourism development. This study summarizes the representative geoheritage and the current state of geotourism in Taihu Xishan National Geopark. A qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted using the SWOT-AHP model. The study assessed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with sustainable development in the geopark. A total of twenty-four SWOT factors were identified. The results indicated that the geopark’s strengths and opportunities outweigh its weaknesses and threats. Based on the strategic vector, various opportunity-driven strategic measures have been proposed within the opportunities-strengths development strategy. The major focus of these efforts is to utilize the park’s inherent advantages by actively seizing significant development opportunities. This study aims to offer references for resource conservation, tourism development, cultural heritage preservation, and sustainable development within geoparks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils are among Earth’s most vital yet slowly renewable natural resources. Chernozem stands out as the most fertile soil globally, capable of yielding high agricultural productivity, and it continues to play a significant role in modern agriculture. The Vojvodina region of Serbia is renowned for its fertile soil, including Chernozem. This study aims to evaluate the current condition and geotourism potential of ten captivating Chernozem sites in the Vojvodina region by using the method for assessment of tourism potential of soil sites. The analysis emphasizes that all evaluated sites possess notable tourism potential due to their natural attractions and appeal to visitors. However, the findings underscore the need for improved services and infrastructure to facilitate tourism development at these sites, essential for attracting larger tourist groups. This study serves as an initial step towards creating educational soil trails to promote the natural, socio-economic, and cultural aspects of this pedo-geoheritage. Additionally, this article aims to provide insights into key aspects of the current tourist features at these destinations that could benefit from further enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Permian-Triassic sections of Kashmir Himalaya holds well-preserved sedimentary succession with fossil assemblages indicating a specific period. Fossil parks are among the primary geotourism attractions that support fossil preservation in-situ. Fossils are gems of paleontology, appearing as the remnants of species from past geological eras, and are prized sources of paleo-environmental history. These non-renewable Earth heritage serves as a conduit for scientific knowledge on historical climate, sedimentary environments, geographic circumstances, relative age determinations, and ecological practices. The extinction catastrophe known as the Permian-Triassic mass extinction event occurred about 251.5 million years ago and marks the transition between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic Periods. It was the most devastating known extinction event on Earth and the greatest of the “Big Five” mass extinctions of the Earth’s history. The fossils and various geological features present at Permian-Triassic sections at Guryul and Mandakpal of Kashmir shed light on the Permian-Triassic (P-T) mass extinction event and preserve crucial knowledge about the effects of previous climate change on the Earth system. Besides, providing information on mass extinction, Guryul and Mandakpal of Kashmir provides a good opportunity for tourists to witness various geological features including fossils, minerals, rocks, caves, seismites, etc. Therefore it is very essential to protect such an area before it gets damaged by local intruders. A crucial step in this regard is the designation of the Permian-Triassic sections of Kashmir Himalaya as a worldwide geoheritage site. The promotion of geotourism is recognized as a global strategy for geoconservation. These prime geoheritage sites must be preserved and promoted for geotourism in order to boost the local economy, as they are significant from scientific, climatic, educational, and geological standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the potential of selected cities for the development of geotourism whose subject of interest are phenomena that sometimes assume catastrophic dimensions for humans. The discussed issue has been illustrated with examples from Poland and the Czech Republic, showing the effects of insufficient attention paid to the environment at the stage of investment design and the effects of mining activities in the urbanised environment. It can be postulated that in the development of geotourism, more emphasis should be placed on showing typical geological or geomorphological processes, in order to raise awareness that natural processes operate always and everywhere, including in urbanised areas. All this is related to the educational role of geotourism, which should not only focus on geoattractions as such, but first and foremost explain the processes that led to their creation and the human impact on these processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Art can be applied as an educational tool for facilitating geoscience communication among young children and students. Consequently, tourism activities which include geotourism, can use art and artists to facilitate the communication of geoscience concepts and processes from the professional level to tourists, including children. This research aims to achieve three main Objectives (i) to study how geotourism activities can be applied for communicating geoscience and geoeducation purposes; (ii) to promote geotourism through the use of art, in particular handicrafts, as a communication tool; and (iii) to highlight geoproducts inspired by the ceramics industry and the existence of fossils in the province of Safi, Morocco. According to the results obtained from this study, the lack of significant work on the designing of geoproducts in Morocco represents both a challenge and an opportunity. The integration of geological elements and traditional art, as proposed in this study, could serve as an innovative strategy not only for improving the local economy but also for geoeducation and the popularization of geosciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Albertine Region of Uganda, an integral part of the Great Rift Valley, have a diverse array of geosites with exceptional geoheritage value. Despite the region's immense geological, geomorphological, structural, palaeontological, stratigraphic and mineralogical significance, as well as its potential as a prime geotourism destination, there is a scarcity of comprehensive studies on its geoheritage within the global geotourism literature. This research examined and assessed key geosites in the Albertine Region, emphasizing their educational value and unique geological characteristics that could attract geotourists. The study employed a rigorous methodology combining cartographic analysis, scientific literature review, GIS data integration, and field surveys to identify and evaluate the geosites based on their educational and touristic potential. The geosites were classified into thematic groups, including waterfalls, hot springs, glacial features, caves, rare mineral occurrences, and bedrock exposures. The evaluation revealed that several geosites possess considerable geotourism and educational potential, with some receiving high scores for both educational value and geotourism attractiveness. To capitalise on this potential and generate economic benefits for Uganda, a two-pronged approach is recommended, involving collaboration between government agencies and educational institutions to promote geosites and actively identify and develop potential sites. By doing so, the Albertine Region can be transformed into a premium geotourism destination in Uganda, generating economic benefits for the country while safeguarding its invaluable geoheritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current research is to propose a model for geoeducation in tourism destinations, which facilitates the sustainable utilization of geoheritage and supports its conservation. To gather data for the formulation of the research model, a systematic review of the existing literature was conducted. For this systematic review and to identify the concepts and variables of geoeducation in tourism destinations, the meta-synthesis method was used. The results show that the proposed model consists of three main dimensions: clarifying, communicating, and aligning. The clarifying dimension improves the understanding and evaluation of geoheritage by focusing on disclosing information about intrinsic and acquired values. The communicating dimension promotes and strengthens geological values in society using components like advertising, explanation, understanding, and persuasion. The aligning dimension integrates educational and operational processes with geological values by emphasizing human resources, equipment, institutions, participation and cooperation, geological interpretation, organizing, experiential learning, and information and communication technology. The main innovation of this research lies in presenting a model that clarifies these dimensions and components and enables the assessment and measurement of their impact. This feature allows the model to be effectively evaluated and improved in educational and conservation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourists' pro-environmental behavior (TPEB) is crucial in promoting the sustainable development of tourism worldwide. It has received increased attention from scholars in different fields of tourism, but relevant research on the normative activation and formation process of TPEB in geotourism is lacking. Given the complexity of behavioral causes and norm activation, this study is grounded in multiple theories, including the norm activation model (NAM), behavioral reasoning theory (BRT), and complexity theory, to illustrate the formation process of TPEB in geotourism. The Zhangye National Geopark, which is located in Gansu Province, China, was chosen as the research case for this study. In total, 502 valid survey responses were utilized for data analysis using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The PLS-SEM results showed that tourist intention for pro-environmental behaviors is linearly affected by moral norms, attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control, which are the key components in the NAM and BRT. The fsQCA results identified six causal recipes components that influence the formation of intention for pro-environmental behaviors, confirming the causal complexity principle of complexity theory. Among these, environmental awareness, anticipated emotion of pride, moral norms, attitude, and social norms are considered core variables. These research findings provide significant management guidance and strategies for the environmental protection of geoparks and the sustainable development of geotourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geotourism is one of the important types of ecotourism with a responsible and conservation -oriented approach that emphasizes the popularization of earth sciences and the cultural, social, and economic development of the local community. In order to evaluate and explain the geotourism conditions of a region and the capabilities of a destination to become a geopark, it is necessary to present and explain the optimal and desirable model for the development of geotourism destinations. Firouzkouh County, with its numerous earth heritage assets, is considered one of the areas susceptible to geotourism. Given the high potential of geotourism for development as a geopark and the lack of necessary utilization of these capabilities in the development of the county, it is necessary to present an optimal model for analyzing the development of geopark capabilities in the county. In this research, through library and survey methods and using geotourism evaluation methods including the Facilas method, the GAM method, and the terrestrial diversity sites method, the county's geosites were evaluated and analyzed from the perspective of different values. The results show that most of the geosites in the region, despite their high representation, educational potential, and aesthetic value, have a weak connection with the local community, and their vulnerability and risk of extinction are increasing. Also, from the perspective of assessing the geopark capabilities, it was determined that this county currently does not have the capability to become an independent geopark. Accordingly, a model for developing the county's capability to become a geopark has been presented, which mainly emphasizes participatory management, entrepreneurship, multipurpose tourists, and geotourism typology, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The inventory of geoheritage is important for the geoconservation, management, and public awareness of geoheritage sites. Due to the limited focus on geotourism research and inventory of geoheritage sites in Africa, it is crucial to adopt a methodology to inventory, evaluate, and prioritize them. Through this case of the Kruger National Park in South Africa, this paper contributes to new knowledge on national systematic geoheritage inventory. Fifteen geoheritage sites are evaluated according to six indicators. Findings revealed that out of 15 geoheritage sites, eight geoheritage sites have both very high geotourism and cultural value. It is suggested that projects in Africa should start by creating a list of geoheritage sites to be used as geotourism attractions, as outlined in this paper, especially in areas where geoheritage and geotourism are not yet considered. This study could serve as a basis for similar studies to be conducted in other developing countries where geotourism has not yet been recognised.

Sokobanja is a well-known spa centre in East Serbia, whose popularity is mostly based on its natural heritage (thermo-mineral springs, waterfalls, canyons, caves, and pits). However, built heritage also offers significant potential for developing geotourism. This article aims to assess the geoheritage values of the geocultural site Sokograd fortress to support geotourism development in this area. For the assessment of geotourism potentials, the urban geoheritage assessment model (UGAM) was applied. To support the criteria of UGAM (e.g. variety of geodiversity and educational potentials), a macroscopic mineralogical–petrographical observation of the building stone was performed. The results revealed significant educational potentials, especially concerning petrodiversity, with sedimentary rocks (limestone, sandstone, tufa, and conglomerates). By comparing the obtained results with the local geology, it is recognized that the building stone was mainly of local provenance. The UGAM parameters, such as geocultural and ecological values, as well as a variety of geodiversity, confirmed that Sokograd has great potential for urban geotourism development. After all, the assessment of degradation risk was performed and revealed that tourism development cannot cause serious threats to the site, but tourism has to be adequately regulated and managed in a sustainable way. The results of this study can provide information to policymakers, local governments, and other interested stakeholders on whether and how to develop urban geotourism at the Sokograd fortress in the upcoming period.

The present study contributes to the morphogenesis of the Miresii Cave, located in Cheia Mare of Dâmbovița in the area of the Bran—Dragoslavele Corridor, an important tourist axis in Romania. The main aim of the research is the proposal to the Scientific Council of Piatra Craiului National Park to bring to the attention of the national decision-making commissions that the cave be declared a natural monument. The inventory of this speleological geomorphosite suggested its inclusion in a thematic geotouristic circuit integrated into national and EU-protected natural areas. The novelty of the present research lies in the fact that the cave has never been studied before, being difficult to access. This cave, spatially found in the strict protection zone of the national park, is not included in its management plan. When being integrated into other nature protection areas, it is necessary to exclude any form of recreational tourism so that the cave can be exploited as a geotouristic resource strictly for research and educational purposes. The morphogenetic analysis of the cave, based on the information synthesized from geomorphological and geological literature, allowed us to decipher the morphological individualization of Miresii Cave in the local and regional geocronomorphological context, in accordance with the chronological separation of the karstification phenomenon manifested first in phreatic and later in vadose karst. The diversified typology of speleothems has been rendered according to the geomorphologic generating processes. The identification of the Rhinolophus ferrumequinum chiropteran colony and observations of its biotope highlighted the ecological significance of the cave. The inventory of the individuals of the colony led to the conclusion that the cave harbors one of the first two largest bat communities of this species in the national park and the adjacent depressional corridor. The present study may allow the documentation of the photographs and description of the geomorphosite integrated into the proposed thematic circuit to be included on billboards and in promotional brochures. Thus, it could also be useful for the decision-making authorities of Rucar and Podu Dâmboviței villages, which are interested in making decisions related to the promotion of geotourism, especially due to the existence of numerous geological and geomorphological tourist resources in the administrative territories.

Based on the China Knowledge Network Database (CNKI) and Web of Science Core Database (WoS), using CiteSpace and Vosviewer to visualize the domestic and international Arab geography research from 1983 to 2023, systematically sorting out and analyzing the characteristics of Arab geography research, and proposing the research paradigm, research fields and disciplinary intersections of Arabic Regional Geography based on the idea of the community with a shared future of mankind. The results are as follows. (1) The amount of articles published on Arab geography research has shown an upward trend in recent years. And there are far more foreign authors engaged in Arab geography research than domestic authors, and close cooperation links are common between many foreign research institutes; (2) Chinese journals that have published articles on Arab geography research mainly include Secondary School Geography Teaching Reference, Geography of Arid Zones, and Humanistic Geography of Foreign Countries, etc. English journals include Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, Remote Sensing and Quaternary International, etc. ; (3) France ranks first in terms of the number of articles published, Japan has the largest intermediary centrality, and Morocco is the only country that ranks in the top 10 in terms of both the number of articles published and intermediary centrality. (4) The main keywords in the Chinese literature are "geo-environment", "ecological environment", "international tourism", etc. The main keywords in the English literature are "climate change", "remote sensing", "biogeography, etc; (5) Based on the research paradigm of "processpattern-mechanism" in geography, and taking the construction of Arab community of destiny for the new era as a link, the focus areas of Arab regional and country-specific geography research highlights globalization, regionalization and localization, and innovate the collaborative innovation mechanism of interdisciplinary community, as well as the innovation mechanism of crossdisciplinary community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cave tourism is a phenomenon most frequently studied in the context of the potential for other forms of tourism (including geotourism, archeotourism, ecotourism) and the impact of tourism on the cave environment. Motivational research among tourists is market-oriented and usually conducted in so-called 'show caves' (adapted for tourism and regularly opened to the public). In the context of social research in caves, the author of the paper notices a research gap: cave tourism also happens in caves that are inaccessible to everyone due to the degree of difficulty of exploration and the lack of necessary skills. The research on a group of 57 members of Polish caving clubs was aimed at studying this community in terms of motivation, perception of the activity practiced (benefits, costs, risks, overall tourist phenomena), and self-definition, the identity of the group. Taking into account the limitations of inference due to the size of the sample, the prospective directions of research on the community of tourists and explorers eluding previous studies of cave tourism were established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is devoted to the study of geoheritage objects and the scientific justification for the creation of a geopark in the Ulytau region of Central Kazakhstan. This region is the largest copper-bearing province in the world and has a unique natural and cultural heritage. The purpose of this article is to show the scientific and tourist significance of geoheritage objects of the potential Ulytau Geopark. The geological history of this area tells about no less than 500 million years of the planet's development. Geological, historical and sacred objects make this area extremely interesting for the development of geotourism and the creation of geoparks as a basis for the sustainable development of the area. The research methods included a bibliographic method, which made it possible to collect information on the geoheritage of the territory; field survey techniques; and methods based on the evaluation of the criteria for eligibility for UNESCO Geoparks. The methodology included five main blocks of assessment (geology and landscape, structure and management model, interpretation and environmental education, geotourism and sustainable development at the regional level) and represents an integrated interdisciplinary approach to present regional features in the context of the geological heritage of the world. Despite the length of time geology has been studied and the resources actively used, geoheritage sites have not been previously studied and characterised. Geoparks in Kazakhstan are at an early stage of development and this article aims to show the potential for establishing geoparks in the Ulytau region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Geologia USP: Série Científica is the property of Geologia USP and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Context and Purpose: In order to optimally utilize the potential of geo-tourism and to achieve sustainable rural development, providing a cognitive and scientific basis is a fundamental requirement. Therefore, the main goal of this research is to identify the challenges and solutions for developing geo-tourism in rural settlements, which has been conducted as a case study in three villages of Yozbashi Kandi, Quri Qaleh. and Alisadr. Design/methodology/approach: In terms of methodology, this quantitative and applied study was conducted with a combination of descriptive-analytical and correlational-exploratory methods. The statistical population includes all residents of the selected villages, of which 314 people were ultimately considered as a statistical sample. The main data collection tool is a researcher-made questionnaire, the validity and reliability of which have been confirmed. Findings: The findings of the analysis of the variance test showed that the F statistic with a value of 236.998 at the 99% confidence level is significant and there is a difference between the three villages studied in terms of challenges to geo-tourism development. The results of the Duncan test showed that the villages of Ali Sadr and Qori Qale have the least and the most challenges to geo-tourism development, with a rank average of 2.123 and 3.203, respectively. The results of the exploratory factor analysis showed that the most important challenges to geo-tourism development, in order of importance, are: weak advertising and limited tourist accommodations (15.352%), weak local management and transportation infrastructure (11.576%), administrative limitations and weak knowledge and financial strength (11.37%), weak marketing and destination diversity (10.429%), cultural-security challenges (8.294%). and weak health infrastructure (7.507%). Conclusion: The solutions presented by the local community for the development of geo-tourism are largely consistent with the identified challenges, and the local community has a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and solutions for the development of geo-tourism. Originality/value: In our country, no study has been conducted on the challenges and solutions for developing geo-tourism from the perspective of the local community, and the present study can be a basis for other studies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism interpretation serves as a bridge and link between tourism resources and tourists. Through interpretation, visitors can be effectively conveyed knowledge about environmental education, local history, society and culture, etc. Despite extensive study on tourism interpretation, insufficient attention has been directed towards the medium of interpretation and the variances of interpretation effectiveness across different media. Using Yandang Mountain Global Geopark, Zhejiang Province, China, as a case study, the present study investigates the differences in pre- and post-interpretation and the interpretation effectiveness of different media on visitors' perceived knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions. A total of 600 questionnaires were distributed during two data collection periods, resulting in 554 valid responses. The results indicate that respondents that engaged in tourism interpretation related to environmental education demonstrated superior performance across all three dimensions compared to those who were not exposed to such interpretation. Additionally, the findings suggest that while the novelty of virtual reality may draw increased attention from tourists, the changes in perceived knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions regarding the destination following VR exposure do not exceed those prompted by brochures and videos. The present study can enrich the research on the tourism interpretation of environmental education and offer references for managers to select appropriate media and provide good practices in geopark management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Social Research / Turkiye Sosyal Arastirmalar Dergisi is the property of Turkish Journal of Social Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One of the enclaves that exhibits the best features to understand the old and most recent geological history of the north-northwest portion of the Iberian Peninsula is the Ballota Beach, located in Asturias, Spain. In the cliff above sea level that borders this beach to the south, a succession of Carboniferous “griotte” limestones crops out, deformed by spectacular ramp and detachment folds, as well as thrusts, backthrusts and duplexes. These structures are testimonies of the shortening produced in the cordillera originated during the Variscan orogeny of Devonian-Permian age, which extended throughout central Europe, northern Africa and eastern North America. Additionally, from a viewpoint located on the cliff, one can recognize a flat surface over the carbonate coastal cliffs and higher flat surfaces developed on quartzites. These flat surfaces, known as “rasas”, are marine abrasion surfaces elevated above current sea level resulting from Cenozoic-Quaternary land uplift and/or sea level fall. This region, already mentioned in the XIX century, has an extraordinary scientific and educational value, from the Structural Geology, Geomorphology, Historical Geology and Stratigraphy points of view, and is a great geotourism attraction due to its beauty. To make this region known, we propose to declare this area a geological interest site in the Global Geosites Spain project, make this article open access, upload a virtual outcrop model we have built in open-access online repositories, make information available to public entities that promote outreach and tourism, propose the realization of a “Geolodía” (Geology day), and make a video to celebrate the Geodiversity International Day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gökçeada, the largest island of Türkiye, reveals metamorphic, igneous, volcanic and sedimentary rocks spanning a wide age range from Palaeozoic to Quaternary. This rich geological diversity has given the island rich geological heritage elements. In order to determine the geological heritage inventory of the island, the ProGEO 98 classification was taken as an example. In this article, 30 geological heritage (GG) elements, 10 cultural heritage (GCH) elements, 3 mythological stories (GMH) and 4 natural heritage (GNH) elements were identified. The majority of these natural and cultural values are related to geodiversity and provide a significant advantage for geotourism opportunities on the island. Gökçeada offers abundant opportunities for mountaineering, trekking, haking, rock climbing, windsurfing, kite surfing, canoeing and diving activities. In addition, Gökçeada has geological resources that have influenced human life on the island since the Neolithic Period. In this paper, different Geotravers are proposed based on the geological heritage inventory of Gökçeada. The determination of the geological heritage inventory will cause geotourism activities to start in a controlled manner, to be supported by nature education and to continue tourism activities throughout the year, not limited to the summer months. From a sustainable development perspective, these identified geotrails will not only increase the share of geotourism revenues in total tourism revenues, but also contribute to the mandatory protection of some geological heritage elements that are at risk of destruction due to the ongoing threat of uncontrolled urbanisation on the island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Napo Sumaco Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark (NSAUUG) territory is located in the Amazonian foothills of Ecuador. It encompasses landscapes and geoforms associated with igneous and sedimentary materials that reveal Earth’s geological history. This study examines the relationship between knowledge and the use of the geopark’s geodiversity for promoting geoconservation and geotourism. A total of 18 geological sites, part of NSAUGG´s, have been identified and classified according to their origin, geological objects and cultural affinity. The classification of geosites describes the geodiversity in terms of igneous and sedimentary rocks, as well as their economic and mining activity. A SWOT analysis was used to generate geoconservation strategies. The results herein presented provide information on the geological features present in the aspiring geopark territory. The interaction between geodiversity, biodiversity and the habitants who use geosites, provides optimal conditions for the promotion of geotourism with cultural, natural, and adventure components. Finally, it is important to ease collaboration between community initiatives, public strategies, and policies to support NSAUGG community development through geotourism and geosites conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generative artificial intelligence systems based on the GPT model have shown groundbreaking capabilities in producing scientific texts, revolutionising how geoscientists research and teach. However, there is a noticeable absence of generative AI systems tailored specifically for geoscience, and the efficacy of GPT technology has not been examined within the Earth Science realm. To fill these gaps, we propose a new artificial intelligence system (GeologyOracle) built upon the GPT-4o model and trained on Earth Science data. It is designed to simulate a conversation with a geoscientist, having the capabilities to analyse geologic datasets, suggest new geoscience hypotheses, explain Earth-Science concepts, and interpret geosites. To evaluate the performance of GeologyOracle, the system was tested with 152 geoscience questions provided and evaluated by a panel of geoscience academics on a scale of 0–10. Performance analysis revealed that 79.6% of the answers scored equal to or above the passing mark of 5, with a tendency to deliver high-quality responses (mean: 6.5; median = 7; interquartile range: 5–8). The results demonstrate that GeologyOracle is effective in performing complex geoscience tasks, such as identifying rocks, fossils, and minerals, and interpreting outcrop, core data, and quantitative datasets. The new AI system has exhibited noteworthy ability in the interpretation of internationally-acknowledged geosites situated within geoparks and nature reserves. The performance of the AI system is comparable to that of trained geoscience specialists, suggesting its potential as an assistant in various geoscience fields, including structural geology, palaeontology, geomorphology, sedimentology, and economic geology. While AI does not render geoscientists obsolete, it offers significant potential for accelerating scientific discovery, automating geoscience research, and assisting educators, students, and geotourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural geomorphology is a very recent discipline that studies the geomorphological component of a territory which embodies both a cultural feature of the landscape and its interactions with cultural heritage: this cultural approach concerns the dialogue and cultural integration between humanistic and scientific disciplines and can be extended to all the fields of Earth Sciences. Ophiolite rock masses strongly characterize the landscape: their greenish-black, sometimes red-brown colour; the steep profile of the slopes, which results from their greater resistance to erosion than the surrounding softer sedimentary rocks; the scarce or even absent vegetation cover. The value of ophiolites is not only related to scientific and aesthetic interests, but is also due to historical–geographical, cultural and socio-economic issues. In this research, we present the elements of cultural and landscape value related to the ophiolites of the Northern Apennines, and how these geological and geomorphological features have led to specific relationships with humankind and human geography. Indeed, ophiolites represent characteristic elements of popular culture with immediate reference to toponymy, local legends and religion. Ophiolites are also an element of great strategic importance, as they are crucial for human settlement, with specific reference to defence, and for mining and quarrying activities. The landscape of ophiolites is of great geological, geomorphological, hydrogeological and pedological interest, resulting in a high concentration of geosites, hence on the one hand the opportunity for enhancement and potential geotourism, and on the other hand the need for their protection and geoconservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the Sites of Geotouristic Interest (SGIs) on the volcanic island of La Palma, Spain. The objective is to identify, select, characterize and evaluate SGIs, for the first time on this island, in order to promote volcano tourism and diversify the tourist leisure offerings. A variety of methods have been used to identify, select and characterize the SGIs, including bibliographic review, topographic, geological and geomorphological mapping, and field work during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 surveys. To evaluate the SGIs, the criteria developed by Reynard et al. (Geoheritage 8:43-60, 2007, Geoheritage 8:43-60, 2016) have been used, which includes scientific (Vs), additional (Va) and “use and management” (Vum) values. The findings indicate that: 1) the 52 SGIs are well-preserved, many of them are protected; 2) they are easily accessible to tourists; 3) the SGIs are representative of the volcanic geoheritage and the erosion and sedimentary geoforms of the main geological units defined in this active volcanic island. The SGIs have an average Vs value of 0.60, higher than the Va value of 0.46. However, the Vum value needs improvement in terms of the touristic information provided and minimizing the impacts of touristic use. This work provides a comprehensive database for both the public administration and active tourism companies to develop initiatives for volcano tourism in La Palma, contributing to the promotion of geotourism and diversifying their offerings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the study of geoheritage has gained global importance, and in the case of Costa Rica, the first investigations have been carried out to identify geosites, as well as the interest in establishing a geopark in the La Amistad-Pacífico Conservation Area. This research focuses on identifying, analyzing, and evaluating the geosites in the Altamira Sector of the La Amistad International Park (PILA, in Spanish) to understand their state of geoconservation and their potential for geotourism. The methodology consists of three steps: geosites identification through geomorphological mapping, fieldwork, and bibliographic research; historical-cultural characterization using documentation related to natural history, expeditions, art, and sacred sites; and geosites evaluation based on criteria such as form, condition, ecosystems, management, and conservation, as well as their relevance to geotourism and their impact on local communities. Four geosites were identified in the Altamira sector: Valley of Silencio, Kamuk Hill, Gemelo-Pittier Hills, and The Esperanza savanna. These geosites feature valleys dissected by channels due to fluvial processes, as well as landscapes shaped by steep volcanic slopes, river action, and periglacial processes. Historical-cultural references were found, including artistic documents, legends, and stories linking them to Costa Rican indigenous culture. Geosites evaluation revealed high scores in criteria related to intrinsic values that define these sites as highlights of geoheritage due to their unique characteristics. However, weaknesses were identified in the Use and Management criteria, primarily in terms of infrastructure to promote geotourism. It is concluded that the selected geosites are representative of their geological and geomorphological evolution, housing valuable information about the natural processes that shaped the territory and serving as evidence of the country's natural and cultural history. Additionally, they stand out as suitable places to promote geoheritage conservation through activities such as research, education, cultural events, and geotourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspects of geoheritage have interested the general public for centuries. Since the global growth of geotourism and geoparks, the importance of geoheritage has become more evident, especially from the perspective of the development of (geo)tourism. From the perspective of sustainability, effective geoheritage presentation via geointerpretation and geoeducation is crucial. One of the most common and effective ways of presenting specific information in the field is an interpretive panel. This paper presents an assessment of geoheritage interpretation on interpretive panels in 11 UNESCO Global Geoparks. The proposed assessment methodology consists of six categories which include 39 assessment questions in total. The results show that the strongest feature of the evaluated panels is simplicity and clarity without losing scientific meaning, while minimal or no attention is paid to features increasing visitor’s enjoyment (e.g., questions or activities) and sustainability and conservation aspects. The approach presented in this paper may contribute to discussion and research in effective geoheritage interpretation for general public, fostering sustainable geotourism development and geoheritage management, use and protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of environmentally sustainable behavioral intentions (ESBI) in tourism is widely acknowledged, yet its role in geotourism is uncertain. Based on norm activation theory, behavioral reasoning theory, and complexity theory, this study used structural equation modeling and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to analyze data from 455 tourists at global geoparks in China. Results indicated that responsibility ascription, attitude, values, and place attachment influence ESBI. fsQCA identified four configuration combinations, confirming complexity theory principles. This paper addressed gaps in the literature and provided practical implications for geoparks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The island of Malta, despite its small size, boasts a great variety of landscapes and landforms, offering a wide range of geological and geomorphological features of great interest. The identification and assessment of geosites can contribute to the preservation, protection, and promotion of this rich geodiversity. In addition, geosites have a high potential of attracting geotourists, thus also contributing to the development of the local economy. Tourism plays a key role for the Maltese Islands, with Malta's tourism direct contribution to GDP being among the highest in Europe. Thus, geotourism could represent a significant resource for Malta, though it has yet to receive the attention and recognition it deserves. Within this framework, this work aims to highlight the role of geoheritage and geotourism as potential resources for the enhancement of sustainable tourism and geoconservation in the southern sector of Malta. This region of Malta receives less visitors compared with the northern sector of the island, which is popular for its sandy beaches. To this end, potential geosites were inventoried and quantitatively assessed using a commonly applied methodology tailored to the local setting. The results of this evaluation let to identify 18 potential geosites that can be recognized as both parts of the Maltese natural heritage and tourist resources. Among these 18 sites, we identified four priority geosites which could be incorporated into a potential geotourism route to also highlight the valuable elements of the cultural heritage located in the vicinity. Moreover, the assessment methodology, applied for the first time in the investigated area, has proven to be a valuable support for geosite identification and can be extended to other Maltese regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, I propose that Cherrapunji, one of the wettest places on the planet, should be a potential site as a UNESCO Global Geopark. This location is not only associated with numerous majestic waterfalls, karst topography and multiple natural caves and speleothems with global scientific value, but is also of great significance to local people. These features have made this place an important area for geoscience research, as well as an important area for the development of geotourism. Cherrapunji is also the source of the 'Meghalayan Age', the most recent age in the geological timescale, defined by the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) in 2018, for the past 4200 years of the Holocene. This article calls on researchers, government officials as well as the local people to take all the necessary steps to make Cherrapunji a UNESCO Global Geopark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of geotourism and the establishment of geoparks can generate new job opportunities, new economic activities, and additional sources of income, with great significance in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Tourists often consume more energy and water and generate more waste in order to seek a more comfortable state during their travels. This research took Zhangye Danxia National Geopark in the north slope of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China as an example and combined field research with questionnaires to construct a non-radial model (SBM) based on energy-water-waste-economic nexus. From the perspective of consumption, this research focuses on the consumer characteristics of geotourism sustainability based on the energy–water–waste–economic nexus (GTS-EWWE) and the driving factors behind them under different degrees of consumption. The elderly, children, and high-income tourists can contribute more to the sustainability of geotourism. Stay duration in the geopark and energy consumption are the native driving factors behind the sustainability of geotourism. However, with the improvement of the tourism consumption level, the marginal effect of the negative influence of both factors is diminishing gradually. While tourism expenditure is a positive driving factor, the tourist's travel mode and the consumer's awareness of ecological–environmental actions will contribute more to the sustainability of geotourism. New energy technologies to promote the green development of geoparks is significant. This research aims to provide a reference for the sustainability assessment of geoheritage sights and to provide evidence for the appropriate management policy with respect to their sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Geodiversity and geoheritage represent an important resource for geotourism and subsequent economic development both in remote natural areas and in traditional, frequently visited recreational areas. Identification, assessment, and suitable management of particular geosites may contribute to the development of sustainable forms of tourism and attract more people to the topics of geodiversity and geoheritage. However, if there is only one aim represented by geotourism development, there can be a danger of overexploitation of geoheritage, especially if the sites are promoted less adequately and not provided suitable protection. This paper is focused on the assessment of particular sites, in terms of their Earth science interest, regarding their geotourist and geoeducational potential; it is also focused on an assessment of possible risks and threats which may be related to the higher promotion and more intensive use of these sites. Based on this, proposals for sustainable management, both for geotourism and geoeducational development and nature conservation, are presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the critical geographies of the circular economy, highlighting the negative impacts of resource consumption and the need for sustainable practices. It explores the exponential rise in circular economy research and the challenges of transitioning to a circular economic model. The text emphasizes the importance of a more critical lens in examining circular economy debates, focusing on context, proximity, flows, scale, and spatial planning. It also delves into the social, political, and ethical implications of transitioning to a circular economy, calling for a more inclusive and diverse perspective in shaping circular economy futures. [Extracted from the article]

Tourism digitalization is often understood and implemented in a technocratic sense and implicitly viewed as a solution to perceived shortages in tourism development. Despite this, little attention has been given to the fact that digital technology has spatial and social implications and is strongly intertwined with tourism places and various actors. We address this intending to identify the dominant disciplinary and contemporary research approaches to tourism digitalization through a systematic review of 2 480 publications from the Scopus database. With inspiration from geomedia studies, an explorative thematic analysis found a separation that poses a risk of technology development being detached from its actual context, suggesting that tourism scholars and practitioners would benefit from broadening their readings and critically addressing the interconnection between technology and tourism places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this article is to identify methods for securing data developed in geoinformation systems and published on websites where data is stored in the cloud. Design/methodology/approach: The study used GIS tools to identify the level of selected natural hazards. The PHA method was then used to determine the magnitude of the emergency risk. The functionality of GibHub for secure cloud storage was then analysed. Findings: The result of the analysis presents a selected IT tool for geodata cybersecurity. Practical implications: The article presents the most important functionalities of the QGIS software, such as the process of generating web maps. It has been shown that IT tools are currently an integral part of critical infrastructure management processes. The most important issue of publishing confidential information is ensuring an appropriate level of security of IT systems. These aspects were also presented extensively in the work in the form of strongly developing tools based on biometric authentication. Originality/value: The article is a valuable material both for theoreticians in the field of security engineering and computer science, as well as for practitioners who come into contact with the issues of geoinformatics tools and cybersecurity in their daily work. The article is addressed to people dealing with the area of knowledge related to crisis management, IT and cybersecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study contributes to the morphogenesis of the Miresii Cave, located in Cheia Mare of Dâmbovița in the area of the Bran—Dragoslavele Corridor, an important tourist axis in Romania. The main aim of the research is the proposal to the Scientific Council of Piatra Craiului National Park to bring to the attention of the national decision-making commissions that the cave be declared a natural monument. The inventory of this speleological geomorphosite suggested its inclusion in a thematic geotouristic circuit integrated into national and EU-protected natural areas. The novelty of the present research lies in the fact that the cave has never been studied before, being difficult to access. This cave, spatially found in the strict protection zone of the national park, is not included in its management plan. When being integrated into other nature protection areas, it is necessary to exclude any form of recreational tourism so that the cave can be exploited as a geotouristic resource strictly for research and educational purposes. The morphogenetic analysis of the cave, based on the information synthesized from geomorphological and geological literature, allowed us to decipher the morphological individualization of Miresii Cave in the local and regional geocronomorphological context, in accordance with the chronological separation of the karstification phenomenon manifested first in phreatic and later in vadose karst. The diversified typology of speleothems has been rendered according to the geomorphologic generating processes. The identification of the Rhinolophus ferrumequinum chiropteran colony and observations of its biotope highlighted the ecological significance of the cave. The inventory of the individuals of the colony led to the conclusion that the cave harbors one of the first two largest bat communities of this species in the national park and the adjacent depressional corridor. The present study may allow the documentation of the photographs and description of the geomorphosite integrated into the proposed thematic circuit to be included on billboards and in promotional brochures. Thus, it could also be useful for the decision-making authorities of Rucar and Podu Dâmboviței villages, which are interested in making decisions related to the promotion of geotourism, especially due to the existence of numerous geological and geomorphological tourist resources in the administrative territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]