Page 280 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

The Auvergne – Centre of Volcanic Tourism in France 257

100s of millions of years (Cambrian, Precambrian: Countermeasures concerning ‘ordinary’ accidents
Jersey, Cotentin, Bolazec in Brittany, Ste Marie in and crimes against or by tourists are also quite
the Jura) or are from the Permian (10s of millions similar wherever they occur:
of years old: Pyrenees, Alpes-Jura, Brabant).
• prevention through education and regulations
French overseas territories on risky environments or substandard

Not strictly part of the discussion in this chapter, technology (cars);
the active volcanoes on French soil actually lie in • insurance cover;
the French overseas territories of French Polynesia • rescue and police services funding and training
(Tahiti, Moorea, etc.), Guadeloupe (Soufriere), for the range of events that might occur;
Reunion (Piton de Fournaise – last erupted 2008), • restitution or rehabilitation; or
Martinique (Mt Pelee – last erupted in 1902 and • criminal and civil sanctions where appropriate
has the title of the most destructive volcano of the after the event.
20th century) and Teahitia (submarine volcano
near Tahiti). These volcanic areas are the subject of The consensus in the literature (Prideaux, 2004;
other case studies in this book. Santana, 2004; Cooper and Erfurt, 2007) is that it
is difficult to predict the likely impact of natural
Risk management disasters, accidents and/or crimes on tourism, as

Apart from those risks relating to the active tourists go by sentiment as much as by perceived
realities. If a tourist likes a destination then it is
volcanoes in French overseas territories, tourism entirely possible that he or she will discount the
risk management with respect to French volcanoes potential for such problems to affect travel to it.
is not concerned with vulcanism and related Conversely, if not, then the potential for problems
geothermal events as such, but more with tourist could assume a higher order of negative importance
activities. Extreme weather, for example, can for the tourist than is warranted by actual
disrupt tourism in all areas of the country; when experience. For a destination it is of course
this is combined with the volcanic terrain problems possible to exercise a considerable degree of
can occur. Ordinary everyday risks can also impact hindsight in describing the actual impact of any
tourism, such as accidents, crime, financial problems problems that have occurred there in the past, and
and the like. On Mont Dore, for example, a cable also to overemphasize preparedness for the next
car link was built to one of the needles just below set. Nevertheless, for any destination, even if
the summit. In December 1965 an accident natural and man-made hazards cannot be avoided
injured ten passengers and killed seven others their dramatic consequences can be reduced
(Graveline, 1999). Additionally, water-based activity through appropriate preparations and risk
on the numerous maar lakes formed by volcanism reduction measures. France, like Japan and other
is itself dangerous to the unwary or untrained. developed countries, is in fact one of the most
Countermeasures against natural and man-
made disasters in France fall into the following prepared nations in the world in this respect. That
accidents, extreme natural events and crime still
categories (as they do in most other countries):
manage to impact on the country and on its
• research into the scientific and technical aspects tourism just indicates how difficult it is to guard
of disaster prevention; against all possible risks.
• reinforcement of disaster prevention systems
(facilities and equipment); Conclusions
• construction projects designed to enhance the In terms of an active–passive continuum model of
country’s ability to defend against disasters; volcanic geotourism, the Massif Central volcanoes
• emergency measures and recovery operations; and the other areas of volcanic origin in France are
and not active (though perhaps not extinct) and
• improvement of information and communi- therefore do not attract visitors seeking active
cations systems. volcanic experiences. In other words, observing

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