““Geotourism, Geotrails & Geoparks – Geotourism, Geotrails & Geoparks – Pathways for Future Development in Pathways for Future Development in

AustraliaAustralia””AESC 2016AESC 2016

2727thth June 2016 June 2016Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson

Chair, Geotourism Standing CommitteeChair, Geotourism Standing Committee

Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

What do we mean by geotourism?What do we mean by geotourism? GeotrailsGeotrails Red Centre Way (Geotrail) and Other GeotrailsRed Centre Way (Geotrail) and Other Geotrails Current Status – Geopark Development in Current Status – Geopark Development in

AustraliaAustralia Take AwaysTake Aways Australia- China CollaborationAustralia- China Collaboration

Geotourism Definition adopted byGeotourism Definition adopted by the Geological Society of Australia the Geological Society of Australia

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

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 & built

Parts 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 well addressed in Australia.typically not been well addressed in Australia.

Source: Dowling, 2013

Geotourism incorporating Geotourism incorporating all types of ‘nature-based’ and cultural all types of ‘nature-based’ and cultural

tourismtourism

After Boley, B.B. after Thompson, S. 2009

Sightseeing

Cuisine

AgritourismIndigenou

sTourism

HeritageTourism

CulturalTourism

ECOTOURISM

GeotourismGeotourismi.e. ‘experientiali.e. ‘experiential tourism’tourism’

Geotourism – Diversity of PlacesGeotourism – Diversity of Places

GeotourismGeotourism

IconsIcons((Inc National Landscapes)Inc National Landscapes)

Mine SitesNational Parks/Reserves/National Parks/Reserves/

Urban ParksUrban Parks

GeotrailsGeotrails

Geo-sitesGeo-sites

Geoparks//PaleoParksPaleoParks

Caves/Karst Areas

Landforms

WHAsWHAs

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 common geological heritage: Landforms and common geological heritage

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

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

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

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

Island of Tasmania Australia’s Red Centre National Landscape

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

Island of Tasmania

‘‘The Living Earth’ – Cradle Coast GeotrailThe Living Earth’ – Cradle Coast GeotrailIsland of Tasmania National LandscapeIsland of Tasmania National Landscape

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 ?

Institutional Resistance to Geoparks - Institutional Resistance to Geoparks - 20122012

StateState Geological Surveys are not supportive of the conceptGeological Surveys are not supportive of the concept – – exasperates land alienation for exploration and mining.exasperates land alienation for exploration and mining.

Staff in many national parks are Staff in many national parks are more interested and trained more interested and trained in other areas of natural heritage; and limited geoscience in other areas of natural heritage; and limited geoscience constituencyconstituency in government land management agencies.in government land management agencies.

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

Designated geoparks adds to the Designated geoparks adds to the complexity of government complexity of government administration in a federated jurisdiction.administration in a federated jurisdiction.

Viewpoint thatViewpoint that the Australian National Landscape Program the Australian National Landscape Program should be developed further should be developed further as a preferred strategy.as a preferred strategy.

Geopark Development In Australia - 2016Geopark Development In Australia - 2016 Australian Government agencies still Australian Government agencies still have reservations of reservations of

acting as an approving authorityacting as an approving authority in land management areas where state/territory governments have jurisdiction.

In the aftermath of the mining boom, regional development regional development – i.e. jobs and growth has become more of a State/Territory – i.e. jobs and growth has become more of a State/Territory Government political imperative than ever before.Government political imperative than ever before.

Australian Government Geologists are now supportive of Australian Government Geologists are now supportive of geotourism geotourism with a better understanding of geopark/geotrail with a better understanding of geopark/geotrail development, but development, but concerns still remain about unintended concerns still remain about unintended consequencesconsequences arising from approvingarising from approving ‘geoPARKS’ over over lands not already protected.lands not already protected.

Proposed Hunter Valley National Mining ParkProposed Hunter Valley National Mining Park

““A Vision Beyond Mine Site Rehabilitation - A Vision Beyond Mine Site Rehabilitation - the largest national mining park in the world to be the largest national mining park in the world to be established to celebrate the significant role that mining has established to celebrate the significant role that mining has played for Australia’s development.”played for Australia’s development.”

• Native flora and fauna habitat conservation – all connected through Native flora and fauna habitat conservation – all connected through corridors;corridors;

• ‘‘Soft adventure’ recreation.Soft adventure’ recreation.• Coal mining heritage sites, geosites and geotrails.Coal mining heritage sites, geosites and geotrails.• Areas set aside for renewable energy generation (solar arrays, wind farms, Areas set aside for renewable energy generation (solar arrays, wind farms,

biomass production) embracing light industrial sites and ‘value adding’ biomass production) embracing light industrial sites and ‘value adding’ manufacturing.manufacturing.

• Engagement with the six strategic hubs of the Strategic Aboriginal Culture Engagement with the six strategic hubs of the Strategic Aboriginal Culture and Enterprise Scheme of the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation.and Enterprise Scheme of the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

Geopark Development In Australia - 2016Geopark Development In Australia - 2016

Australia’s National Landscapes and many other regional areas of Australia are key ‘iconic’ places where geotourism, rather than just ‘nature based’ tourism, is becoming seen as synonymous.

With 120 UNESCO Global Parks now approved worldwide, Australia needs to join this global development, or risk missing out on the economic and other benefits offered by geopark development.

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

Take-AwaysTake-Aways Creating geotrails Creating geotrails is arguably the easiest way of is arguably the easiest way of

providing early pathways and support from providing early pathways and support from governments for geotourism activities in Australia.governments for geotourism activities in 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 in geotrails will instill confidence in geotourism,geotourism, providing a providing a future pathway to geopark future pathway to geopark establishment establishment and development in Australia.and development in Australia.

State Government inspired geopark/geotrail initiatives State Government inspired geopark/geotrail initiatives are emerging in Qld,Tasmania, SA and WA.are emerging in Qld,Tasmania, SA and WA.

Australia-China Memorandum of Australia-China Memorandum of CooperationCooperation

The Australia-China relationship is becoming The Australia-China relationship is becoming more important more important with the increasing level of with the increasing level of economic, social and cultural activities in the economic, social and cultural activities in the coming decades.coming decades.

The Memorandum of Cooperation will be focused on The Memorandum of Cooperation will be focused on growing and enhancing best practice nature-based growing and enhancing best practice nature-based tourism (i.e. geotourism) tourism (i.e. geotourism) in both China and Australia. in both China and Australia.

Tourism park managers could play a significant Tourism park managers could play a significant role in role in establishing ‘sister’ relationships between establishing ‘sister’ relationships between parks, as a key driver of future geotourism.parks, as a key driver of future geotourism.

Contact DetailsContact Details

angus@leisuresolutions.com.au0418 488 3400418 488 340

http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groups/

http://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2016/04/australia-s-big-red-centre