Geoheritage and Geotourism Contribution to Tourism Development in Protected Areas of Slovakia—Theoretical Considerations

Abstract

Slovakia is renowned for its remarkable and rare natural beauty, abundant in natural resources with several noteworthy geological features. However, the protection of nature has primarily been understood as the protection of biodiversity in Slovakia. For the conservation of geological diversity and landforms, very little has been done. Geoconservation or the protection of geodiversity is being applied to specific places known as geosites, where significant earth elements (geological, paleontological, geomorphological, hydrological and pedological) are protected, preserved and managed. Most geosites benefit from existing protected areas. Their protection is random and does not result from the recognition of their values. As discussed in the paper, geotourism related activities can undoubtedly contribute to promoting the protection of geosites in protected areas. Besides, through a geotourism approach, geodiversity can obtain public attention and positively influence the state of protected areas by its activities. Such initiatives not only can improve the protection of geological sites but also can play a crucial role in sustainable tourism development.

Recent State Policy and Its Impact on Geopark Establishment and Operation in Slovakia

“…(1) geotourism and geoparks represent the first conceptual attempt at the symbiosis of natural heritage conservation and tourism development, in comparison with the previous 'rigid' approach of nature protection legislation, as mentioned by Petráš ([76], p. 179) on the case of perception of the 'threat of geotourism to the protection of geodiversity' by environmentalists); and (2) the shift of interest from living to inanimate nature-the protection of nature and landscape with its traditional emphasis on the biotic component of the environment put the protection of geological heritage rather in the background [69]. At the same time, geoparks have a certain additional potential in this direction and can supplement the means of territorial protection of nature and landscape, albeit indirectly (e.g., by developing effective geo-interpretation and geo-education), as most geosites located in Slovakia which can be included into core zones of proposed geoparks (Figure 4), according to the original Concept of Geoparks of the Slovak Republic [41], are still outside the borders of perimeter of national parks and landscape protected areas.…”

“…91 of 2010 [63]. This possibility is supported by the fact that it would be appropriate to delimit the relationship of the geopark to protected areas, as their territories can and usually even do overlap (especially as regards the sensitive solution of the relationship between nature protection and tourism development) [69]. The current situation is such that the geopark, although also defined by its territorial district and its founders emphasizes its protective and public benefit mission, the initiative (project) is completely based on private law and its founders are against state or local government bodies representing nature protection or regional development as recipients of obligations, prohibitions, and restrictions.…”

Equity Management of the Tourism Sector Enterprises in the Slovak Republic

“…The basic feature of tourism is traveling, visiting, getting to know new areas, cultures, and customs on the spot, which is associated with the movement of people. Before the pandemics, such travel became affordable for an ever-increasing group of Slovaks, who also made extensive use of it (Štrba et al, 2020;Onuferová et al, 2020;Matijová, 2019). This applied not only to travel within the country but also to travel abroad, where the price of air tickets was often so low that anyone could travel.…”

Puyango, Ecuador Petrified Forest, a Geological Heritage of the Cretaceous Albian-Middle, and Its Relevance for the Sustainable Development of Geotourism

“…Geodiversity considers all the geological elements of the Earth's crust, from the landscape to its internal structure that constitutes the various materials such as rocks, minerals and fossils. It is an inanimate part of nature, but at the same time significant to sustaining biodiversity, since the soil and subsoil generated by a series of geological processes are what sustain it, and what together are part of the natural beauty of a site; however, geodiversity has been downplayed by historically giving greater prominence to biodiversity [1]. Thus, the term geodiversity refers to the quality, spectacularity, and beauty of a site of an abiotic nature, which is why it deserves conservation [2].…”