Page 32 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

Introduction 9

Table 1.2 National parks in the United States that include mainly volcanic and geothermal features

Destination examples (US) Annual visitor numbers (2008)
Yellowstone National Park 3,066,580
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park 1,270,538
Hot Springs National Park 1,238,147

Haleakala National Park 1,185,068
Mt Rainier National Park 1,163,227
Crater Lake National Park 415,686
Lassen Volcanic National Park 377,361

Devil’s Tower National Monument 336,303
Devil’s Postpile National Monument 134,005
Lava Beds National Monument 120,076
North Cascades National Park 18,725
Source: Compiled by the author from National Park Service (2009)

Table 1.3 National parks and other protected areas worldwide incorporating volcanic and
geothermal heritage

Destination Examples (Worldwide) Annual Visitor Numbers
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Japan 103,000,000 (2004)
Teide National Park, Spain 3,540,195 (2004)
Vesuvius National Park, Italy 1,000,000 (2004)
Tongariro National Park, New Zealand 1,000,000 (2004)
Giants Causeway, Ireland 500,000 (2004)

Etna Provincial Park, Italy 240,000 (2004)
Geyser, Iceland 122,000 (2004)
Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica 840,000 p/a
Source: Compiled by the author from various sources

offering recreation and outdoor activities for Park in Japan may seem excessive, for destinations
everybody. The volcanic and geothermal of great national interest this is completely normal
destinations in Tables 1.2 and 1.3 give an indication considering the travel patterns of Japanese people.
of the importance of national parks with volcanic The cultural and religious significance of Mt Fuji
and geothermal landforms. Judging by the visitor evokes interest among artists and scholars as well
numbers volcano tourism offers attractions for as among the global scientific community in
visitors on an impressive scale. addition to the millions of short-term, mainly
While a figure between 103 and 105 million domestic, visitors. Of the well over 100 million
annual visitors to the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National visitors per year, on average approximately 300,000

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