Active Hydrothermal Features as Tourist Attractions

Tourists are looking increasingly for adventurous experiences by exploring unusual and interesting landscapes. Active volcanic and hydrothermal landscapes and their remarkable manifestations of geysers, fumaroles and boiling mud ponds are some of the surface features that fascinate visitors of National Parks, Geoparks and World Heritage areas worldwide. The uniqueness of hydrothermal activity based on volcanism has provided popular tourist attractions in many countries for several thousand years. The Romans for example have used hydrothermal springs on the Italian island Ischia and visited the Campi Flegrei for recreational purposes. In Iceland the original Geysir already attracted international visitors over 150 years ago, who came to observe this spectacular hydrothermal phenomenon. In Greece and Turkey volcanic hot springs have historically provided attractive destinations, as well as in New Zealand, Japan and the Americas. The fact that locations with hydrothermal activity based on active volcanism have acquired various forms of protected site status, adds a further dimension to their attraction and demonstrates a significant contribution to sustainable and nature based tourism. Countries such as Iceland, New Zealand and Japan have a long tradition of using hydrothermal activity in its various forms to offer tourists a unique natural experience. These environments however are also known for their unpredictable and potentially hostile nature, as the use of hydrothermal features as a natural resource for tourism does harbour certain risks with the potential to affect human health and safety. Hydrothermal systems have erupted in the past, thereby causing the destruction of their immediate environment. Depending on the level of magnitude explosions of super heated water and steam mixed with fractured rocks and hot mud can be violent enough to create craters varying in size from a few metres to several hundred metres in diameter. Apart from unexpected eruptions of hydrothermal vents with the potential to cause thermal burns, further risk factors include seismic activity such as earthquakes, lethal gas emissions of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) as well as ground instability through hydrothermal alteration. While it is essential to prevent injuries to tourists the management of hydrothermal hazards remains problematic. Precursory signs are not well understood by the general public and the communication of imminent danger is frequently unachievable. As a consequence serious thought needs to be given to the risk factors and the potential danger of areas in the proximity of active hydrothermal manifestations such as extreme hot springs and geysers. To improve the safety standards in hydrothermal landscapes that are used as main features in tourism, strategic guidelines for best practice management must cover ALL active volcanic and hydrothermal areas. This chapter looks at management issues at hydrothermal destinations with special consideration of areas where these unique features are integrated as tourist attractions. Examples from destinations traditionally based on active volcanic and hydrothermal phenomena are presented as case studies to highlight the risk management processes in individual countries. Potential hazards in volcanic and hydrothermal areas are assessed with a focus on the prevention of accidents and injuries to tourists

Basaltic Dyke with Specific Volcanogenic Structures and its geomorphic evolution: Unique Geoheritage of the Faroe Islands (North Atlantic Ocean)

Volcanic landforms resulting from Cenozoic volcanism represent the most peculiar features of global geodiversity and provide eminent narratives for geoeducation. Among them, however, relict volcanic forms and site-specific landforms in remote areas have received less attention. In this paper, we provide the first description of unique volcanogenic features (hereinafter referred to as pseudo-hieroglyphs) developed on a summit rock wall at the Sandfelli ridge near the village of Gjógv in the N Eysturoy Island (Faroe Islands). The geomorphic evolution of the ridge and rock wall during the Quaternary is described and detailed petrographic analyses of the volcanogenic features are provided. Based on observed petrographical features, we interpret the pseudo-hieroglyphs to probably represent unique examples of chaotic horizontal columnar jointing. Following the geomorphological and petrographic examination of the study site, we analyse current Faroese legislation aiming at nature conservation and use this case to discuss broader implications of geoheritage conservation and geotourism in distant regions.Vulkanická krajina vzniklá kenozoickým vulkanismem představuje nejpodivnější rysy globální geodiversity a poskytuje vynikající příběhy pro geovzdělávání. Méně pozornosti se však dostává reliktním vulkanickým formám a lokálním tvarům reliéfu v odlehlých oblastech. V tomto článku přinášíme první popis unikátních vulkanogenních tvarů (dále jen "pseudo-hieroglyfy"), které se vyvíjely na skalní stěně vrcholu na hřbetě Sandfelli u vesnice Gjógv v severní části ostrova Eysturoy (Faerské ostrovy). Je popsán geomorfologický vývoj hřbetu a skalní stěny během kvartéru a jsou uvedeny podrobné petrografické analýzy vulkanogenních vlastností. Na základě pozorovaných petrografických rysů interpretujeme pseudo-hieroglyfy, které pravděpodobně představují jedinečné příklady chaotické horizontální sloupcovité odlučnosti. Po geomorfologickém a petrografickém studiu zájmové lokality analyzujeme současnou faerskou legislativu zaměřenou na ochranu přírody a užíváme tohoto příkladu k diskusi širších důsledků zachování a geoturistiky geografického dědictví ve vzdálených regionech

Geotourism: an approach to raise awareness about the protection of geodiversity and how to achieve conservation goals through the sustainable use of natural and cultural resources

[Extract] GEOTOURISM is a form of sustainable tourism based on the geodiversity of our environment and encourages learning about natural landforms. Responsible GEOTOURISM has a low impact on the environment and promotes conservation of protected areas (Geotourism Australia). The abundance of global geo-heritage encourages visitors to learn about the natural environment. GEOTOURISM inspires awareness about the need for protection and conservation of particularly endangered areas. The concept of GEOTOURISM aims for an authentic, high-quality visitor experience based on the responsible use of natural geoheritage sites

European waterways as a source of leisure and recreation

Recent interest in travel along European waterways has revived a form of passenger transport that predates the Roman occupation of much of Europe almost two millennia ago (Steinbach, 1995; Baranowski and Furlough, 2001).\ud Europe's waterways have a long history of having been utilized to transport freight and travellers from one settlement or country to another (Davies, 1998). Europe's geography provides an extensive network of natural waterways\ud which, over time, have been connected by numerous canals. A number of European countries including France built many short canals to connect rivers while other countries including Germany focused on large canal developments\ud to connect their waterways. These extensive canal networks now support growing river tourism activity throughout Europe, particularly in the long-distance segment (Roberts and Simpson, 1999). Currently, the main focus of river tourism development is on cruises of the major river systems with an emphasis on central Europe (Ely, 2003). Elsewhere in Europe cruising can be found in most areas where there are suitable waterways and development in\ud these areas includes cruises on rivers, canals and lakes. River tourism can be land-based as well as water-based. This chapter will use examples from a variety of European waterways and their immediate surrounds to present an overview of activities that are both water- and land-based and which collectively constitute Europe's river tourism sector

Geotourism: an approach to raise awareness about the protection of geodiversity and how to achieve conservation goals through the sustainable use of natural and cultural resources

[Extract] GEOTOURISM is a form of sustainable tourism based on the geodiversity of our environment and encourages learning about natural landforms. Responsible GEOTOURISM has a low impact on the environment and promotes conservation of protected areas (Geotourism Australia). The abundance of global geo-heritage encourages visitors to learn about the natural environment. GEOTOURISM inspires awareness about the need for protection and conservation of particularly endangered areas. The concept of GEOTOURISM aims for an authentic, high-quality visitor experience based on the responsible use of natural geoheritage sites

Wellness tourism: a perspective from Japan

[Extract] Wellness tourism in Japan is largely based on the use of the abundant natural volcanic hot springs throughout the country. Natural hot spring spas and resorts, known as Onsen, are arguably in fact Japan's most important destinations for healthy recreation. The residents of any Japanese locality are therefore generally very conscious of the health benefits of their communal hot springs, which are used by the majority on a regular basis for bathing. It is noticeable though, that other wellness therapies such as alternative medicine, the various forms of massage available in other parts of the world, and traditional forms of medicine (Erfurt-Cooper and Cooper, 2009) are not usually associated with wellness tourism or the daily use of Onsen in this country. There is also little demand for Onsen from foreign tourists other than those from China and Korea, partly because of the unfamiliar forms of the bathing rituals associated with their use (Kojima and Kawamura, 2006; Erfurt-Cooper & Cooper, 2009)

Volcanic landforms as tourist attractions in Australian national parks and other protected areas

[Extract] The Australian east coast has a large diversity of geological features including inactive remnants of volcanoes, many of them located in national parks or conservation areas. These areas of dormant or extinct volcanism offer an abundance of tourist destinations. In the north of Queensland large parts of the landscape are shaped by volcanic activity with over 60 renmant volcanoes in the Atherton Tablelands alone. The 'far north' offers various volcanic features including lava tubes, colunmar joints, cinder cones and maars. In southeast Queensland the Glasshouse Mountains are a well known landmark surrounded by a national park. On the New South Wales - Queensland border the Mt Warning caldera in the Tweed Valley is an impressive reminder of a volcanic past and further south the Warrumbungle National Park offers old vents at Crater Bluff, nature trails, lookouts and lava domes from Split Rock to the Breadknife and Belougery Spire

Volcano and geothermal tourism in Kyushu, Japan

[Extract] In Japan volcano tourism and geotourism are part\ud of many tourists' trip agendas, although as yet not under these specific categories. Most people who visit volcanic environments in Japan do so under the guise of nature-based hot spring tourism ,or onsen tourism which benefits from the geophysical attributes especially on the island of Kyushu. The number of national parks in Kyushu offers a broad range of recreational opportunities; moreover,\ud most of them with access to volcanic and geothermal areas. To give a quick indication of the destinations discussed in this chapter a map of Kyushu (Figure 9.1) has been modified to indicate where the major volcanoes are located

Volcanic Tourist Destinations

This comprehensive book addresses the pressing need for up-to-date literature on volcanic destinations (active and dormant) and their role in tourism worldwide in chapters and case studies. The book presents a balanced view about the volcano-based tourism sector worldwide and discusses important issues such as the different volcanic hazards, potential for disasters and accidents and safety recommendations for visitors. Individual chapters and case studies are contributed by a number of internationally based co-authors, with expertise in geology, risk management, environmental science and other relevant disciplines associated with volcanoes. Also covered are risk aspects of volcano tourism such as risk perception, risk management and public safety in volcanic environments. Discussions of the demand for volcano tourism, including geotourism and adventure tourism as well as some historical facts related to volcanoes, with case studies of interesting socio-cultural settings are included