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““Role of Geotourism in Australia’s Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025” - GlobalEco 2016” - GlobalEco 2016

Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson

Geotourism Forum, Ecotourism AustraliaGeotourism Forum, Ecotourism Australia

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025

Natural & Cultural Heritage, Ecotourism and GeotourismNatural & Cultural Heritage, Ecotourism and Geotourism

Australian National LandscapesAustralian National Landscapes

Australian Geotrail and Aspiring Geopark Development in Australian Geotrail and Aspiring Geopark Development in AustraliaAustralia

Take AwaysTake Aways

Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025

Ecotourism Australia has been working with key Ecotourism Australia has been working with key industry stakeholders to prepare industry stakeholders to prepare Australia’s Nature Australia’s Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025 Based Tourism Strategy 2025 and and Action PlanAction Plan. .

There is currently There is currently no collaborative, nation-wide no collaborative, nation-wide strategy strategy to maximise and realise the potential for to maximise and realise the potential for nature-based tourism.nature-based tourism.

Geotourism offers strong experiential Geotourism offers strong experiential characteristicscharacteristics, embracing all elements of natural , embracing all elements of natural and cultural heritage, inclusive of ecotourism and and cultural heritage, inclusive of ecotourism and indigenous tourism values.indigenous tourism values.

Understanding Natural HeritageUnderstanding Natural Heritage

Natural heritage is the legacy of natural Natural heritage is the legacy of natural objects and intangible attributes objects and intangible attributes encompassing the encompassing the countrysidecountryside and and natural natural environmentenvironment, including flora and fauna, , including flora and fauna, scientifically known as scientifically known as BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY, and , and geology, landforms and soil landscapes, i.e. geology, landforms and soil landscapes, i.e. GEODIVERSITYGEODIVERSITY..

Key Concepts – Ecotourism Key Concepts – Ecotourism

“Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable ecologically sustainable tourismtourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areasexperiencing natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation”

But ecotourismecotourism per se is too narrowly defined and is increasingly seen as a niche marketniche market.

Geotourism Definition Geotourism Definition

‘Geotourism is tourism which focuses on an area's geology and landscapegeology and landscape as the basis for providing visitor engagement, learning and enjoyment’.

Environment, Natural & Cultural HeritageEnvironment, Natural & Cultural Heritage

comprises the following:comprises the following:

1. 1. AAbioticbiotic – non-living aspects such as the climate & geology – non-living aspects such as the climate & geology e.g. landscape and landforms: e.g. landscape and landforms: GEODIVERSITYGEODIVERSITY

2. 2. BBioticiotic – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora (plants): (plants): BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY

3. 3. CCultural ultural – past & present, non-living & built– past & present, non-living & built

Parts Parts B+CB+C are well interpreted within tourism, especially through are well interpreted within tourism, especially through ecotourism and cultural tourism, ecotourism and cultural tourism, but but AA has typically not been well has typically not been well addressed in Australia.addressed in Australia.

Source: Dowling, 2013

Geotourism incorporating Geotourism incorporating all types of ‘nature-based’ tourismall types of ‘nature-based’ tourism

Sightseeing

Cuisine

AgritourismIndigenousTourism

HeritageTourism

CulturalTourism

ECOTOURISM

GeotourismGeotourismi.e. ‘experientiali.e. ‘experiential tourism’tourism’

Geotourism – Diversity of PlacesGeotourism – Diversity of Places

GeotourismGeotourism

IconsIcons(Inc National Landscapes)

Mine SitesNational ParksNational Parks/Reserves//Reserves/

Urban ParksUrban Parks

GeotrailsGeotrails

Geo-sitesGeo-sites

Geoparks/Geoparks/PaleoParksPaleoParks

Caves/Karst Areas

LandformsLandforms

WHAsWHAs

Geo VillagesGeo Villages

Nature Based Tourism – Potential MarketsNature Based Tourism – Potential Markets

‘‘Geotourism’ = nature-basedGeotourism’ = nature-basedDomestic TravellersDomestic Travellers

EcotouristsEcotourists

School GroupsSchool Groups

‘‘Geotourism’=Geotourism’=nature-based nature-based Overseas TravellersOverseas Travellers

Geopark InterestsGeopark Interests

UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKSWhere are the geoparks?

There are 120 UNESCO Global Geoparks 120 UNESCO Global Geoparks spread across 33 countries and 5 continents. This includes 69 in

Europe as part of the European Geoparks Network (founded in 2000) and 46 in the Asia-Pacific region as part of

the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network (founded in 2009).

Geoparques Mundiais da UNESCO

Organizaçãodas Nações Unidas

para a Educação,Ciência e Cultura

Australia’s National Landscapes ProgrammeAustralia’s National Landscapes ProgrammePartnership between tourism and conservation that aims to:Partnership between tourism and conservation that aims to: Promote Promote world class, high quality world class, high quality visitor experiencesvisitor experiences Increase the Increase the value of tourism to regional economiesvalue of tourism to regional economies Enhance the Enhance the role of protected areas role of protected areas in those economiesin those economies Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assets Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assets Engage Engage local communitieslocal communities

A long term A long term strategicstrategic approach approach

‘‘To differentiate To differentiate Australia’s Australia’s iconic natural and cultural iconic natural and cultural

destinationsdestinations from anything else from anything else available in the worldavailable in the world’

Australia’s 16 National LandscapesAustralia’s 16 National Landscapes

National Landscapes & UNESCO Global GeoparksNational Landscapes & UNESCO Global Geoparks

HaveHave similar goalssimilar goals relating to local development and relating to local development and community engagement community engagement as well as education and as well as education and experiential tourism experiential tourism (‘geotourism’).(‘geotourism’).

Both Both require government approval require government approval but with but with different different government stakeholdersgovernment stakeholders. .

However, the Australian However, the Australian National Landscape National Landscape Programme Programme has been formerly disbandoned by its has been formerly disbandoned by its government sponsors, but the government sponsors, but the iconic landscapes and iconic landscapes and their communities are still very much in placetheir communities are still very much in place! !

Alice Springs

Uluru

Australia’s Red CentreAustralia’s Red CentreNational LandscapeNational LandscapeNorthern TerrorityNorthern Terrority

‘‘features an ancient landscape with erosionalfeatures an ancient landscape with erosional remnants (geosites) linked to a common remnants (geosites) linked to a common geological heritage’geological heritage’

Island of Tasmania Australia’s Red Centre National LandscapeAustralia’s Red Centre National Landscape

Iconic Geotourism Themes of Iconic Geotourism Themes of Australia’s Red Centre National LandscapeAustralia’s Red Centre National Landscape

AA: Landforms and common geological heritage: Landforms and common geological heritage

BB: Red Kangaroo species, and other type : Red Kangaroo species, and other type flora/faunaflora/fauna

CC: Indigenous (and European) culture: Indigenous (and European) culture

Why Geotrails?Why Geotrails?

1.1. Relates directly to the tourism experience of a Relates directly to the tourism experience of a journey linking destinationsjourney linking destinations..

2.2. In Australia, unlike geoparks, In Australia, unlike geoparks, geotrails have geotrails have widespread appealwidespread appeal, and do not compete with or , and do not compete with or impact on land management/access issues.impact on land management/access issues.

3.3. Geotrails are relatively easy to establish and Geotrails are relatively easy to establish and represent a represent a very cost effective means of enhancing very cost effective means of enhancing regional developmentregional development..

Best Practice GeotrailsBest Practice Geotrails

1.1. Should be constructed around Should be constructed around routes currently used routes currently used by touristsby tourists; geotrails should form logical journeys ; geotrails should form logical journeys linking accommodation destinations.linking accommodation destinations.

2.2. Should Should meld the geological heritage features of a meld the geological heritage features of a region with a cohesive STORY.region with a cohesive STORY.

3.3. ShouldShould incorporate and package in the biodiversity incorporate and package in the biodiversity and cultural components (including mining heritage) and cultural components (including mining heritage) of the region through which the geotrail traverses.of the region through which the geotrail traverses.

‘‘The Living Earth’ – Cradle Coast GeotrailThe Living Earth’ – Cradle Coast Geotrail

Other Australian Geotourism InitiativesOther Australian Geotourism Initiatives State of New South Wales: State of New South Wales: GeoTreat supported ‘GeoJourney’ in the GeoTreat supported ‘GeoJourney’ in the

Australian Coastal Wilderness National Landscape.Australian Coastal Wilderness National Landscape.

State of Victoria: State of Victoria: Volcano Discovery Trail (Kanawinka related).Volcano Discovery Trail (Kanawinka related).

State of Western Australia: State of Western Australia: Various geotrail project proposals (e.g. Various geotrail project proposals (e.g. Murchison, Coolgardie) and potential ‘geopark concept’ opportunitiesMurchison, Coolgardie) and potential ‘geopark concept’ opportunities

State of South Australia: State of South Australia: is not actively progressing any geopark potential is not actively progressing any geopark potential projects, but is very keen to support the development of geotrails and projects, but is very keen to support the development of geotrails and geotourism through exceptional geological heritage, especially through geotourism through exceptional geological heritage, especially through Kangaroo Island and the Flinders Ranges National Landscapes.Kangaroo Island and the Flinders Ranges National Landscapes.

State of Tasmania: State of Tasmania: West Coast ‘Living Earth’ – CradleCoast GeoTrail.West Coast ‘Living Earth’ – CradleCoast GeoTrail.

Northern Territory: Northern Territory: Potential Geotrails (Red Centre, Savannah Way).Potential Geotrails (Red Centre, Savannah Way).

Pre-AspiringPre-Aspiring Warrumbungles UNESCO Global Geopark Warrumbungles UNESCO Global Geopark New South Wales New South Wales

CurrentlyCurrently comprising the Shires comprising the Shires of Warrambungle, Gilgandra of Warrambungle, Gilgandra and Coonamble, 27,000 sq km and Coonamble, 27,000 sq km in areain area

The Proposed Savannah Way Geotrail linked to the Pre-AspiringEtheridge UNESCO Global Geopark in the state of Queensland

Take-AwaysTake-Aways

Regional development imperatives Regional development imperatives (growth and jobs) are now (growth and jobs) are now driving geotourism initiatives in Australia.driving geotourism initiatives in Australia.

The incorporation of the geotourism experience (with traditional nature- based tourism and elements of other traditional nature- based tourism and elements of other ‘place based’ tourism)‘place based’ tourism) creates a more holistic experience, and is a move towards the experiential tourism modelexperiential tourism model.

Australia has a big future for geotourism big future for geotourism particularly given the emerging demand from overseas marketsoverseas markets..

State and Local Government inspired and backed State and Local Government inspired and backed geopark/geotrail initiatives geopark/geotrail initiatives are now emerging.are now emerging.

Contact DetailsContact Details

angus@leisuresolutions.com.auangus@leisuresolutions.com.au

Tel: + 61 418 488 340Tel: + 61 418 488 340

http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groupshttp://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groups//

http://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2016/04/australia-s-big-red-centrehttp://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2016/04/australia-s-big-red-centre