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Geotourism and Public Safety

in Volcanic Environments 1

Travis W. Heggie Service Public Use Statistics Office, 2008). The
geothermal and volcanic activity at Rotorua, New
Introduction Zealand, Mt Etna in Italy, Japan’s Mt Fuji, Mt
Tungurahua in Ecuador, Villarrica volcano in
Geotourism is a relatively new concept that has Chile, and Iceland’s active volcanoes are other
emerged as a rapidly growing form of tourism popular destinations for volcano tourists (Lane et
(Turner, 2006). In response to the need for a more al, 2003; Ortiz et al, 2003; Behnke, 2009). However,
encompassing concept than ecotourism or as popular as these and other volcano destinations
sustainable tourism, the concept of geotourism are the potential health hazards associated with
was introduced by the Travel Industry of America them cannot be ignored. In fact, if volcano
and National Geographic Traveler Magazine in 2002 tourism is to be a successful tourism sector, the
(Lew, 2002; Buckley, 2003; Kim et al, 2008). potential health hazards facing tourists at volcanic
Through this introduction, geotourism was destinations must be recognized and mitigated.
defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the Thus, the purpose of this chapter is to review the
geographical character of a place, its environment, health hazards associated with volcanoes and
culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well being of geothermal destinations with the intent of creating
its residents (Lew, 2002). Moreover, much like awareness amongst the tourism industry and
ecotourism, geotourism incorporates the concept practitioners of travel medicine.
of sustainable tourism in that destinations should
remain unspoiled for future generations (Lew,
2002). It also embraces the principle that tourism Volcanic hazards
revenue should promote conservation while Many tourist destinations in hazardous locations
allowing for ways to protect a tourist destinations are popular because of their high scenic value
character (Lew, 2002). (Waller and Brink, 1987; Murphy and Bailey,
Volcano tourism and travel to geothermal 1989; Lane et al, 2003; Meheux and Parker, 2006).
destinations figure prominently under the umbrella In fact, volcanoes in particular have been described
of geotourism. In 2008 1.2 million tourists visited as a powerful tourist attraction because of their
the active volcanic features in Hawai‘i Volcanoes aesthetic value (Dominey-Howes and Minos-
National Park, 1.1 million visited Hawai‘i’s Minopoulos, 2004). From a geologic perspective,
Haleakala volcano, 3 million visited the geysers volcanoes are generally described as being
and hot springs of Yellowstone National Park, 1.2 explosive or effusive with the quantity and
million visited Hot Springs National Park in behaviour of volatiles contained in their magma
Arkansas, and 415,000 visited Oregon’s Crater being a key determinant on the eruption style of
Lake National Park (United States National Park a volcano (Bower and Woods, 1997; Huppert and

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