Page 30 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Introduction 7

1 active lava flows; and Newsome, 2006) involving time spent among
2 strombolian eruptions; geological attractions without engaging in
3 geysers and hot springs; adventurous activities, or they are used by thrill
4 lava lakes; seekers who want to take full advantage of active
5 crater lakes; volcanic and geothermal destinations. For both
6 boiling ponds; visitor types volcanic environments such as national
7 fumaroles and vents; parks are playing an important role in modern
8 boiling mud pools; education about volcanoes (Sigurdsson and Lopes-
9 hot rivers and streams; Gautier, 2000). In recent times geoparks on a
10 sinter terraces. national and global scale have been added to the
protected zones containing volcanic and geothermal
Volcanic and geothermal manifestations often landforms, with a number of these also recognized
occur in clusters including several features, as world heritage sites. Several of these sites are
although on occasion it is only one particular located in regions with volcanic and geothermal
attraction that draws the crowds to a location. In landforms as their main characteristics. Some of
the case of geysers some famous names like Old these have been previously known as national
Faithful (Yellowstone National Park) and the parks and have been nominated in order to protect
original Geysir (Iceland) come to mind, both of them for future generations (Table 1.1).
them located in areas that offer other geothermal Quite a few of these listed sites include
attractions as well. Geothermal tourism is very currently dormant volcanic regions with remnants
closely related to volcano tourism and has an of volcanic activity, which nevertheless present a
equally long tradition of attracting visitors to visual attraction and evidence of a more violent
active environments with spectacular visual geophysical past. The trend towards geotourism
displays. Hot springs are a common by-product in includes the volcanic heritage of a region as a
volcanic areas and are used either as visual valuable learning tool and is in many cases
attractions such as geysers and boiling lakes, or as supported by interpretive visitor centres, which
hot springs for spas and resorts. Bubbling mud are an option for people who do not want to
pools and other geothermal features like sinter physically venture close to active craters or climb
terraces (e.g. Pamukkale – Turkey, Mammoth Hot summits such as Mt Teide in Spain (Hunt and
Springs – USA, Bai Shui Tai – China, Sanger, 2006), or Mt Aso and the new global
Whakarewarewa – New Zealand) are known to geoparks of Mt Unzen and Mt Usu in Japan (see
attract large visitor numbers – but so do dormant Chapters 9 and 10). Although world heritage sites
volcanic features like crater lakes and old lava are not always listed because of their geological
flows (e.g. Vulkaneifel – Germany). heritage, this particular aspect is still part of the
For tourists interested in geological evidence equation when considering the growing interest
of former volcanic activity there are many regions in geotourism. The overlap into other important
where they can observe basalt columns, bedded tourism sectors includes the cultural and religious
pyroclastic formations, rhyolitic tuffs, granite significance of volcanoes for local communities in
intrusions, rock faces containing flow banding, countries such as Indonesia or Japan, symbolizing
volcanic breccia, obsidian and pillow lava. Dormant the spiritual connection between humans and the
or extinct volcanic areas have a lot to offer in the environment.
form of unique landscapes in many countries Expectations of possible eruptions and
worldwide. heightened activity appear to draw larger numbers
of tourists to eruption centres (Sigurdsson and
Volcano and geothermal Lopes-Gautier, 2000; Morella, 2007). On the other
tourism hand remnant volcanic landforms, including
presently dormant regions or areas assumed extinct
Unique landscape features or geosites are attractions located either in national parks or other designated
for tourists, either for passive recreation (Dowling areas are marketed as family friendly destinations

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