Page 245 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

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Tyrrhenian Sea, near the north-eastern coast of second half of the 19th century, both areas have
Sicily. The archipelago consists of seven major and become regular tourist destinations for visitors.
numerous small islands and owes its name to the Between them, the grand tour and the needs of
Greek god of the wind ‘Aeolus’. The largest the artists of the 18th and 19th centuries for new
portion of the island is the volcano itself. At the and picturesque landscapes began a new phase of
beginning of the 20th century the island was cultural history, where Etna became the subject
depopulated by emigration to America and of a literary and artistic myth. The views of the
Australia after it was ravaged by big volcanic snow-capped volcano in the background of the
eruptions in 1919 and 1930. Stromboli is a ancient theatre in Taormina have appealed to
stratovolcano and ranges from a depth of about many international tourists since that time, and
2000m to the summit, named Pizzo Sopra la the volcano’s journey through historical time
Fossa, at 926m above sea level. Its historic record laid the foundation stone of tourism to the
of activity goes back more than 2500 years before island. Compared to today however, Etna was
the present and there is evidence that its persistent infrequently visited by tourists until the first half
activity has been going on for as long as 5000 of the 20th century. A change began during the
years (Behnke, 2005). The majority of eruptions 1960s when elite tourism evolved into mass
consist of small explosions with lava fragments, ash tourism; as a result, the trip to Sicily and Etna is
or both. Several explosions at irregular intervals, now no longer exclusively reserved for the
lasting from five minutes to more than one hour, affluent strata of society. Since the late 1950s
occur each day, larger eruptions and lava flows are mass tourism has experienced consistent growth,
less frequent. When this type of eruption is and tourist infrastructure such as access roads,
observed at other volcanoes it is often referred to restaurants, accommodation and ski lifts has been
as a Strombolian eruption (Behnke, 2005). Part of installed to cater for increased demand from
the normal activity is characterized as well by the international guests.
presence of active lava in one or more vents. Post the 2002–2003 eruption tourism on Etna
Activity departing from normal is defined as has been characterized by a lack of new investment.
prolonged Strombolian bursts or fountaining Primarily, this has meant that while the
(more than one minute), strong explosions with infrastructure destroyed at that time has been
block and bomb ejection onto the Pizzo sopra la restored, little else has been provided. However,
Fossa or beyond, pyroclastic flows and emission of with the growth of an ecological consciousness in
lava (Behnke, 2005). larger parts of the population since the middle of
the 1980s the popular view on the Etna area has
Historical development changed. The area was proclaimed a natural
of volcano tourism at Etna preserve in 1987, which led to a reappraisal of the
and Stromboli Sicilian mountain-culture for tourism. Today the
accessibility of Etna with four comfortable roads
The easily accessible volcanoes of Italy remain, leading up to the two main tourist areas on the
next to the volcanoes of Hawai‘i, probably the mountain, along with the common idea of Etna
most popular volcano destinations in the world. being an essentially non-explosive volcano, appeals
Mt Etna on the Italian island of Sicily is one of to tourists of all ages. The presence of numerous
the most frequently visited active volcanoes on tourist facilities, especially hotels, restaurants and
Earth, the total number of visitors exceeding souvenir shops on the south and north-east flank
one million per year (Behnke and Struck, 2005). (Figure 15.1), serve to channel the tourist flow.
Worldwide tour operators include these Guides accompany tourists for excursions to
volcanoes in their programmes and in addition higher points of the volcano and sites of particular
numerous smaller local suppliers have established interest. During the season (March–November)
package deals for local and international demand excursions are made in jeeps; on the south flank in
and tourism has become a major source of combination with a cable car; both permit
income for the local population. Since the continuous visitor counts.

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