Page 260 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Under the Volcano – Can Sustainable Tourism Development be Balanced with Risk Management? 237

emergency plan, it is clear that many of the local • reconstitution and defence of hydraulic and
stakeholder groups have now been consulted at hydrogeological balances in the area; and
some level. However, there is still little or no • promotion of traditional cultural, agricultural
mention made of the significant numbers of and craftwork activities.
visitors and tourists that make their way into the (Vesuvius National Park, 2008)
region and – most importantly for any emergency
evacuation plans – place further burdens on the Hence, as well as geotourism per se there is
already overstretched infrastructure. This is a recognized potential for a wide spread of other
somewhat disturbing situation, as interviews with tourism niches to be catered for in the region
local municipalities, the national park and other around the volcano.
authorities around Vesuvius have indicated that all Set against this backdrop, one of the key
are interested in creating a wider range of products questions that arises is this: when apprehension is
for tourists in order to extend their stay and spend rising regarding the state of awareness and
in the region. Various regional, national and EU preparedness for future eruptions, can a further
programmes are being identified through which growth in tourism arrivals be mitigated against
to attract support for further tourism development. such a growing risk? In order to explore this issue
The principle motivation behind these actions is and identify current and future structures and
the pressing need to improve the high levels of plans for tourism around the volcano, the author
unemployment and poor levels of return received conducted an initial phase of qualitative research
by the local communities from the tourism around some of the relevant institutions linked to
industry as it is currently structured. development in the areas adjacent to the Gran
Cono. The research was conducted through face-
Drawing tourism into the to-face interviews, participant observation,
hazard management equation literature reviews and personal communications
with a Naples based company working on
Tourism to Vesuvius and its hinterland is not a sustainable planning and development. In addition
recent phenomenon. In AD79 Pliny the Younger short semi-structured conversations were
became the first person to fully chronicle a major conducted with a range of international tourists
volcanic eruption. In so doing, the disasters that during their visits to the volcano peak.
overcame the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum The strong opinion expressed by many of
were permanently lodged in our collective those interviewed was that tourism in the region
memory and Vesuvius became the most (in) continues to be poorly implemented. It was
famous volcano on the planet. Today the spectacular expressed on several occasions that a very small
archaeological sites attract up to 2.5 million percentage of what should be major benefits
visitors annually, while over a million people trek ended up filtering through to the local economies
up the final hundred or so metres to the main and alleviating unemployment. Several interviewees
crater or Gran Cono of Vesuvius (personal com- expressed concern that governmental institutions,
munication with Vesuvius National Park particularly at the local level, were either weak and
authorities). Additionally since 1995 an area of poorly staffed or corrupt. This meant that
some 8482ha surrounding the volcano has been speculative building, illegal clearing of land and
designated as a national park, with the following illegal dumping of waste had continued unabated,
aims outlined in its statute: with the principle driving force and only significant
beneficiary being the Campanian organized crime
• conservation of its fauna, flora and clans, collectively known as the Camorra (personal
geomorphologic structures; communications with Vesuvius National Park,
• application of administration and environmental 2008 and Legambiente Campania Branch, 2008).
protection programmes; The creation of the national park in 1995 was in
• promotion of educational, recreational and part a response to this situation – the intention
sustainable research activities; being that the protected area would act as a buffer

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