Page 262 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Under the Volcano – Can Sustainable Tourism Development be Balanced with Risk Management? 239

plus three further souvenir shops at points around describe the range of volcanological features
the crater rim. visible inside and around the main cone of
The souvenir shops offered just a few basic Vesuvius, which included active fumeroles and
guide books and no further specific geological or numerous lava flows representing a whole sequence
volcanological information. It was unclear who of past eruptions with their associated experiences
regulated the contents and takings from these and stories (Figure 16.3).
shops. At the first kiosk at the top of the crater rim When consulted about the future organization
itself, however, we were approached by a group of of the park and takings from tourism, the park
blue jacketed ‘volcanological’ guides who were officers indicated that their single greatest struggle
hawking trade from the tourists (see Figure 16.2). is in levering away the influence of the Camorra
A brief conversation with one of them and their extraction of revenues to the hidden
indicated that they were trained and validated by economy. This has been dealt with in the political
the Region of Campania authorities, but the arena through lobbying to the federal parliament
nature and extent of their training was unclear. and in the past few years has achieved some success.
When being interviewed by the author, a small For example, the management of the site is now
group of French, Dutch, Australian and American jointly organized by the private company mentioned
tourists who had taken one of these guides earlier and the national park authorities themselves.
indicated that the fairly basic information the This means that the national park now receives
guide presented was probably pitched at the approximately one euro from each of the entrance
correct level for them as none had any specialist tickets sold (personal communication with Vesuvius
volcanological knowledge themselves, although National Park officers). With this income there are
most had been to other active volcanic sites plans to stop more polluting transportation such as
before. Some minor concerns were raised by some coaches coming all the way to the terrace at
of the tourists, about the lack of any guidelines 1000m. The aim is for them to stop outside of the
regarding evacuation in the event of a volcanic national park limits where passengers would then
eruption, even though it was indicated that the be transferred to a refurbished terrace through the
guide had told this group that an eruption of use of electric shuttle buses.
Vesuvius was now considered to be ‘overdue’. But Future plans are aimed at strengthening links
as a way of reassuring the group and staying between the national park and its surrounding
concordant with the NEPVA, the guide had municipalities, in order that tourism development
indicated that the advanced earthquake swarms might connect with agricultural outputs and
linked to a rising magma chamber would provide traditions, along with other cultural practices. The
a forewarning of around two weeks before such an prospects of transporting tourists to additional
eruption. Hence when the volcano did eventually urban and rural locations are aided by the
erupt, no tourists would have been allowed near existence of a substantial infrastructure around the
to the Gran Cono for several weeks. volcano. In particular, mobility is provided by a
Later interviews with the national park network of 96 stations and six lines that form the
authorities indicated that the volcanological guide ‘Circumvesuviana’ narrow-gauge railway. This
business was in the hidden economy and that network joins up all the municipalities and main
future plans included making a new tender out for towns around Vesuvius with a service going into
‘official’ guiding services. the centre of Naples (Circumvesuviana, 2008).
From personal observations at different times A wealth of traditions and experience are
and at different points on the Gran Cono, it was embedded in the communities that inhabit the
apparent that many other tourists were interested land around the volcano, but these are not
in picking up and collecting souvenir rock samples currently transmitted to the tourists arriving in
from the volcano. However, no interpretation the region, hence this channel for possible
boards were present to help generate further economic benefits is not exploited. Equally there
interest and to assist identification during such is a very long-standing tradition of viticulture
fossicking. Equally, there was no guidance to around Vesuvius:

Ch16.indd 239 3/28/2010 1:30:53 PM