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Geoparks and Geotourism in China: A Sustainable Approach to Geoheritage Conservation and Local Development—A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Kejian Xu

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China)

  • Wenhui Wu

    (Institute of Sedimentary Geology, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

Abstract

Geoparks and geotourism are relatively new activities within tourism. However, both have grown rapidly over the past decade. Geoparks, as an innovation for the conservation of geoheritage, play an important role in the development of geotourism. Geotourism has evolved partially in response to the need to minimize the negative impacts of mass tourism in geologically and geographically sensitive and/or im-portant areas situated in tourist environments, while at the same time providing a catalyst for sustainable rural development. China, with its vast territory and complex geological and geomorphic features, is often referred to as an open laboratory in geosciences and has 289 national geoparks and 41 UNESCO global geoparks so far. Currently, it is a leading country in the world in establishing and maintaining geoparks. This paper reviews the geoparks initiatives in China, as well as attempts to assess the compatibility of geoconservation and rural development within geotourism areas by exploring the challenges and outcomes of the geotourism development in China and by identifying and analysing the outcomes of geopark development. The results indicate a geopark is a sustainable approach to advancing geoconservation and promoting local economic development. The results further emphasize the importance of sustainable management in geotourism. Only when managed in a sustainable manner is geotourism likely to provide long-term improvements for developments in rural areas. Implications for geopark management and geotourism development are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Kejian Xu & Wenhui Wu, 2022. "Geoparks and Geotourism in China: A Sustainable Approach to Geoheritage Conservation and Local Development—A Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:9:p:1493-:d:907734
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Federico Pasquaré Mariotto & Kyriaki Drymoni & Fabio L. Bonali & Alessandro Tibaldi & Noemi Corti & Paolo Oppizzi, 2023. "Geosite Assessment and Communication: A Review," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-15, February.
    2. Igor Trišić & Donatella Privitera & Snežana Štetić & Georgi Genov & Sara Stanić Jovanović, 2022. "Sustainable Tourism in Protected Area—A Case of Fruška Gora National Park, Vojvodina (Northern Serbia)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-13, November.
    3. Daminda Sumanapala & Isabelle D. Wolf, 2022. "Introducing Geotourism to Diversify the Visitor Experience in Protected Areas and Reduce Impacts on Overused Attractions," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Esperanza Fernández-Martínez & Ismael Coronado & Luna Adrados & Rodrigo Castaño, 2022. "Factors in the Responsible Management of the Luna Valley Complex Geosite (NW Spain)—A Case Study," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-31, November.
    5. Mousa, Fatma A. & Ruban, Dmitry A. & Abu El-Hassan, Mohamed M. & Sallam, Emad S., 2024. "Late Mesozoic–Cenozoic geoheritage resources of the Kharga Oasis (Egypt): Novel assessment, exploitation perspectives, and policy implications," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    6. Paolo Oppizzi & Federico Pasquaré Mariotto & Rudolf Stockar & Andrea Stella & Noemi Corti & Martina Pedicini & Sergio Andò & Giovanni Vezzoli & Fabio Luca Bonali, 2023. "Geosites in the Gole della Breggia Geopark, Ticino, Southern Switzerland," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-13, October.
    7. Yiting Zhu & Xueru Pang & Chunshan Zhou, 2023. "Key Area Recognition and Evaluation of Audio-Visual Landscape for Global Geoparks: A Case Study of Koktokay in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, September.
    8. Marko D. Petrović & Dobrila Lukić & Milan M. Radovanović & Ivana Blešić & Tamara Gajić & Dunja Demirović Bajrami & Julia A. Syromiatnikova & Đurđa Miljković & Sanja Kovačić & Marija Kostić, 2023. "How Can Tufa Deposits Contribute to the Geotourism Offer? The Outcomes from the First UNESCO Global Geopark in Serbia," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    9. Miriam Edith Pérez-Romero & José Álvarez-García & Martha Beatriz Flores-Romero & Donaji Jiménez-Islas, 2023. "UNESCO Global Geoparks 22 Years after Their Creation: Analysis of Scientific Production," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, March.
    10. Junxiong Mo & Piling Sun & Dandan Shen & Nan Li & Jinye Zhang & Kun Wang, 2023. "Simulation Analysis of Land-Use Spatial Conflict in a Geopark Based on the GMOP–Markov–PLUS Model: A Case Study of Yimengshan Geopark, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, June.
    11. Anna V. Mikhailenko & Svetlana O. Zorina & Natalia N. Yashalova & Dmitry A. Ruban, 2023. "Promoting Geosites on Web-Pages: An Assessment of the Quality and Quantity of Information in Real Cases," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, May.

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