Geotourism and Geoparks:

A tool for conservation and development

Summer 2011. Post-graduate level. 10 ECTS credits. Language: English.

Location

Bárðardalur Valley, North Iceland.

Registration

Enrolment deadline: TBA.

Associated Disciplines

Tourism studies.

Keywords

Geotourism, geoparks, nature conservation, regional development, sustainable tourism.

Description

Defined as the tourism of geology and landscape, geotourism is growing rapidly, as travel to — and appreciation of — natural landscapes and geological phenomena continue to develop as a niche area of the global tourism industry. This course aims to enable students to acquire a deeper insight into the scope and nature of geotourism and the issues and challenges facing it, both with regard to tourism in general and regional development in particular. It will also provide wide-ranging insights into the characteristics of geotourism, by examining its sustainable nature through landscape conservation, benefits to local communities, and economic development. In doing so, it will include a variety of information on geoheritage, interpretation, and the economic benefits of geotourism, and will discuss how geotourism can be used as a means of supporting regional development. Finally, the concept of Geoparks, a recent UNESCO initiative that has resulted in the development of over 64 parks in more than twenty countries, is introduced and assessed.

The course will draw on the efforts of international scholars in the field, as well as established tourism scholars and an interdisciplinary team of lecturers. Students are expected to work on their individual research project in the light of the course subjects.

Highlights

Potential of geotourism in nature conservation and regional development.

Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of this course the student will be able to:
•    Understand the nature and development of geotourism
•    Conceptualise geotourism as a sector within tourism
•    Understand the principles that underpin geotourism
•    Identify and analyse the ecological, socio-cultural and economic impact of geotourism
•    Analyse critically the relationship between the impact of tourism in general, and the need for geological and ecological sensitivity in the planning and development of geotourism
•    Understand the concept of the UNESCO Geoparks initiative at both a national and global level
•    Identify potential geotourism opportunities and/or geoparks in Iceland

Supervisors

Rannveig Ólafsdóttir (RÓ), Associate professor, Dept of Geography and Tourism, University of Iceland.
Anna Karlsdóttir (AK), Assistant professor, Dept of Geography and Tourism, University of Iceland.

Reading

•    Geotourism: The Tourism of Geology and Landscape. Edited by David Newsome and & Ross Dowling, Goodfellow Publishers, Oxford ,UK (2010).
•    Emerging Volcano and Geothermal Related Tourism in Iceland. Ross Dowling. In Volcano and Geothermal Related Tourism: Sustainable Geo-Resources for Leisure and Recreation. Edited by Patricia Erfurt-Cooper & Malcolm Cooper, Earthscan, London, UK (2010.

Preliminary Schedule (subject to change)

To be announced

Structure and Evaluation

The course is a cooperation project between the Department of Geography and Tourism at the University of Iceland, and the Svartárkot Centre for Research & Education. It is conducted in a blended learning mode, meaning that we will use distance-based studies for its introduction, before spending nine days together on location in Iceland with lectures, exercises, seminars, field work, individual and group work. It is then finalized and followed up as a distance-based course, so providing participants with an invaluable opportunity to derive additional benefit from the face-to-face time spent during their nine days in Iceland. Finishing and following up the course in a distance-based fashion will also create a network which itself can be used as an additional resource.

The examination of the course consist of projects reports made during the course as well as a final paper processed during the post-course.

See also: Framework

Guest Lecturers

Senior guest lecturer:

Ross Dowling (RD), Professor, School of Marketing, Tourism & Leisure, Edith Cowan University, Australia.

Other lecturers to be announced.

Enquiries

For specific information on this course and the Svartárkot program please send email to:  info@svartarkot.is