Page 33 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

10 Introduction

actually climb to the top of Mt Fuji, with about Volcanoes in history
one third of these being foreign visitors. However,
the vast majority of visitors to the Fuji-Hakone- and culture
Izu National Park enjoy the view of Mt Fuji Volcano and geothermal tourism possibly goes
either from a distance or hike around the lower back much further than we think, although most
areas for brief recreational activities. Many visitors reliable documentation in the West points to the
come for the hot spring resorts, the cherry onset of the European ‘Grand Tour’ around 1660
blossoms in spring or the autumn season. to 1670, when volcanoes were included in the trip
agenda. However, it is now known that the people
of earlier civilizations settled close to active
The demand for volcano and volcanoes (Grattan, 2006), in many cases most
geothermal tourism likely to benefit from the hot springs commonly
The fascination of people with active volcanoes and found in the proximity of active volcanoes
their occurrence worldwide has created a growing worldwide (Erfurt-Cooper and Cooper, 2009,
demand for volcano tourism, and this increases pp49–59). The Romans for example, are known
with heightened volcanic activity that paradoxically to have used geothermal springs on islands like
encourages longer stays, unless of course it becomes Ischia or visited the Campi Flegrei for leisure and
too dangerous. Geotourism could therefore well be recreation, similar to their neighbours in Greece
the new medium for raising awareness about and Turkey, where volcanic hot springs provided
potentially dangerous environments without attractive destinations. Volcanoes such as Vesuvius
decreasing visitor numbers, as well as for education attracted visitors throughout the 17th and 18th
about risks and hazards in volcanic environments. centuries, when young and affluent Europeans
Destination promotion through information undertook the ‘Grand Tour’, which saw them
exchange via the Internet (travel logs, blogs, articles, travelling, learning and socializing for extended
reports etc.) contributes to a raised awareness about periods of time (Fisher et al, 1997; Sigurdsson and
volcanic and geothermal environments. As a result Lopes-Gautier, 2000). Consequently volcano
some areas are now specializing in catering tourism is not new but has emerged as a separate
exclusively for volcano tourists, and accommodation tourism sector which is attracting increasing
is made available as close to the volcanic activity as numbers of visitors worldwide. Japan, New
possible (i.e. Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica; Zealand, Iceland, Greece and Italy are a few
Ruapehu Chalet, New Zealand; Mt Aso Ryokans, examples of countries with a longstanding tradition
Japan; Etna B & Bs, Italy). in volcano tourism, although in Italy the legacy of
New volcano sports are also emerging on the Herculaneum and Pompeii is a grim reminder of
slopes of more or less active mountains such as the destructive power of volcanic eruptions (Fisher
‘volcano boarding’ or ‘volcano surfing’ (e.g. Cerro et al, 1997). And Krakatau, Indonesia also has a
Negro, Nicaragua), which is promoted through fixed place in the dramatic history of volcanic
virtual tourism on the Internet to give volcano eruptions; visitors were fascinated by the unusual
tourists some ideas about what to expect at spectacles displayed before the mountain erupted
different destinations. Whether active, dormant or in 1883 in a final cataclysm (Furneaux, 1964).
extinct – volcanoes are therefore major tourist These forms of epic volcanic events are described
magnets in many regions, because for many by De Boer and Sanders (2002) in several case
countries the revenue from nature-based tourism studies examining the relationship of humans and
including volcano tourism means a substantial volcanoes in history.
contribution to the economy. However, the In ancient times volcanoes were seen by many
objective should be to make volcano tourism as cultures as the entrance to the underworld or hell,
safe as possible with existing safety guidelines for ruled by subterranean forces, and were thus regarded
residents in active volcanic and geothermal regions with suspicion and awe (Bullard, 1977; Fisher et al,
to be analysed as to how they can be adapted for 1997; Edelmann, 2000; Sigurdsson and Lopes-
temporary visitors. Gautier, 2000; Cashman and Cronin, 2008; Dove,

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