Abstract
Geotourism has been defined in a number of ways from a broad spectrum ‘geographic’ approach to a more specific definition related to geology and geomorphology. This second approach includes the idea that learning and geoconservation are the main purposes of geotourism, which promote sustainable tourism development based on visitors’ geological experiences. The Geologic Park of Aliaga (Teruel) in Spain was created in 1993, and it is a pioneer in the development of parks as a means of focusing on exceptional national and international geoheritage. The experience acquired during 10 years, by the local company that was appointed to manage the geotourism within the park, has caused an effective multidisciplinary approach which promotes geoscientific knowledge in for a range of audiences. Nevertheless, this interpretative activity is mainly threatened by the absence of any strategy which includes geoconservation caused by a lack of economic funds and legal competencies to drive effective regulative, informative and scientific measures. These threats will affect the future and the sustainable local development promoted in the present by the Geologic Park.
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Escorihuela, J., Dowling, R.K. Analysis of the Geotouristic Activity in the Geologic Park of Aliaga, Spain: Progress, Threats and Challenges for the Future. Geoheritage 7, 299–306 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-014-0137-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-014-0137-5