Geotourism at the Natural Park of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone (Catalonia, Spain): Impact, Viability, and Sustainability
La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone is a suitable case study to analyze the impact and sustainability of geotourism on a protected volcanic field, as it has allowed the transformation of a poorly known territory into one of the best known and most visited geosites of Catalonia (Spain). The protection of this...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2018-08-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/8/8/295 |
| _version_ | 1819240476371320832 |
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| author | Llorenç Planagumà Joan Martí |
| author_facet | Llorenç Planagumà Joan Martí |
| author_sort | Llorenç Planagumà |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone is a suitable case study to analyze the impact and sustainability of geotourism on a protected volcanic field, as it has allowed the transformation of a poorly known territory into one of the best known and most visited geosites of Catalonia (Spain). The protection of this volcanic area represented the end of legal and illegal quarrying activities that significantly damaged most of its volcanoes, but also provided an opportunity to develop the zone for tourism. We compiled the available information from its establishment in 1982 as a natural park by the Catalan Government to the present day, in order to analyze the socio-economic impact of geotourism on this protected area and its surroundings. We paid attention to its evolution in terms of the number of visitors, the social and economic consequences that this type of tourism has had, and whether it is compatible with the conservation of natural assets, especially geological ones. We also studied the role that the co-management of the protected space by local administrations and private entities has had on its sustainability. The results obtained are relevant to visualizing the viability of geotourism in a protected area by combining the economic drive and the conservation of natural assets. Spaces such as La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone represent natural laboratories where we can observe the success of the application of environmentally friendly policies with a positive socioeconomic impact on geotourism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:08:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-168d2762a88940668cdfc48ae23f2e4f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T14:08:37Z |
| publishDate | 2018-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-168d2762a88940668cdfc48ae23f2e4f2022-12-21T17:44:07ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632018-08-018829510.3390/geosciences8080295geosciences8080295Geotourism at the Natural Park of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone (Catalonia, Spain): Impact, Viability, and SustainabilityLlorenç Planagumà0Joan Martí1Tosca, Environment Services, 17800 Olot, SpainInstitute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera, CSIC, 08028 Barcelona, SpainLa Garrotxa Volcanic Zone is a suitable case study to analyze the impact and sustainability of geotourism on a protected volcanic field, as it has allowed the transformation of a poorly known territory into one of the best known and most visited geosites of Catalonia (Spain). The protection of this volcanic area represented the end of legal and illegal quarrying activities that significantly damaged most of its volcanoes, but also provided an opportunity to develop the zone for tourism. We compiled the available information from its establishment in 1982 as a natural park by the Catalan Government to the present day, in order to analyze the socio-economic impact of geotourism on this protected area and its surroundings. We paid attention to its evolution in terms of the number of visitors, the social and economic consequences that this type of tourism has had, and whether it is compatible with the conservation of natural assets, especially geological ones. We also studied the role that the co-management of the protected space by local administrations and private entities has had on its sustainability. The results obtained are relevant to visualizing the viability of geotourism in a protected area by combining the economic drive and the conservation of natural assets. Spaces such as La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone represent natural laboratories where we can observe the success of the application of environmentally friendly policies with a positive socioeconomic impact on geotourism.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/8/8/295Catalan volcanic zonegeological heritagegeotourismmonogenetic volcanismSpain |
| spellingShingle | Llorenç Planagumà Joan Martí Geotourism at the Natural Park of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone (Catalonia, Spain): Impact, Viability, and Sustainability Geosciences Catalan volcanic zone geological heritage geotourism monogenetic volcanism Spain |
| title | Geotourism at the Natural Park of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone (Catalonia, Spain): Impact, Viability, and Sustainability |
| title_full | Geotourism at the Natural Park of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone (Catalonia, Spain): Impact, Viability, and Sustainability |
| title_fullStr | Geotourism at the Natural Park of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone (Catalonia, Spain): Impact, Viability, and Sustainability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geotourism at the Natural Park of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone (Catalonia, Spain): Impact, Viability, and Sustainability |
| title_short | Geotourism at the Natural Park of La Garrotxa Volcanic Zone (Catalonia, Spain): Impact, Viability, and Sustainability |
| title_sort | geotourism at the natural park of la garrotxa volcanic zone catalonia spain impact viability and sustainability |
| topic | Catalan volcanic zone geological heritage geotourism monogenetic volcanism Spain |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/8/8/295 |
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