Page 28 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Introduction 5

world heritage sites, and as national or global • involve no strenuous exercise, easy to
geoparks (e.g. China, Europe, Australia). For a list manage;
of world heritage sites including active and • often included in travel and sightseeing
dormant volcanic landforms please see Table 1.1. itinerary, transport by bus or cruise ship
(e.g. Iceland, Japan); and
The volcano tourist • are very casual about safety issues, but this
Although volcano tourism is becoming increasingly group presents the majority of ‘volcano
popular in many countries worldwide (Hansell and tourists’.
Oppenheimer, 2004), the academic and general 2 Excursions and field trips
literature covering volcanic and geothermal • organized by or for interest groups, e.g.
environments rarely mentions tourism in volcanic scientists and students, photographers;
regions. Nevertheless, volcano viewing in active • can be day tours, several weeks or even
and dormant areas and the exploration of longer;
geothermal landscapes are frequently included as • involve awareness of potential risks and
sightseeing activities and part of the trip agendas dangers at varying degrees; and
for many travellers every year. Quite often the visit • are a growing market segment of geotourism
to an active or dormant volcano or to a geothermal with special interests in volcanic and
park is a choice made spontaneously closer to the geothermal environments.
destination and depends on various factors such as 3 Expeditions and exploration
how much time is involved, the current state of • for experienced and fit participants able to
volcanic or geothermal activity, the weather, ease of cope with ‘unusual experiences’ along the
access, transport and distance to cover, plus possible way and prepared to go where only few or
requirements for special equipment. Level of fitness even nobody went before (e.g. Erta Ale,
is also an important factor, as people often Nyiragongo, Kamchatka, Antarctica);
overestimate their personal endurance levels. • can be ultra-extreme, partly also depending
To attract visitors of different interest groups, on climate and season, and need special
tourism operators offer a diversity of tours with equipment and provisions;
varying degrees of difficulty and risk factors. The • involve a high awareness of potential
most sought after attractions are glowing lava dangers; and
flows, strombolian eruptions and fissure eruptions. • are a minority group amongst tourists.
Night tours to popular viewing spots are organized
for maximum effect. Associated activities range The first group most likely represents the majority
from trekking, hiking, climbing and skiing on or of visitors to active volcanic and geothermal
around active and dormant volcanoes, to canoeing, environments and has the lowest level of awareness
water skiing and fishing on crater lakes, depending about safety and potential hazards. The second
on the state of environmental protection in group is a fast growing market sector with a
individual areas. medium level of awareness and the third group,
Three main categories have been identified in although representing currently the minority of
which visits to volcanic and geothermal travellers, has probably the highest level of risk
environments can be broadly classed with varying awareness. The fact that specially organized volcano
degrees of background information, knowledge tours and expeditions exist reflects the sheer
and experience by the volcano tourist, as well as determination of a growing number of people to
current activity levels of the destination, and any visit areas with unusual volcanic or geothermal
time frames involved: features.

1 Tours or day trips Visitor motivations
• organized for the majority of general The vast number of active volcanoes worldwide
sightseeing tourists of all ages, interests and presents a huge potential for volcano tourism and
backgrounds; is attracting many different types of visitors from

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