Geotourism: Values and Threats

Geotourism, as a branch of tourism focusing on the geological and cultural values of regions,plays an important role in promoting conservation and sustainable development. This type oftourism not only gives visitors an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of geology andnatural beauty, but also highlights the importance of conserving this valuable heritage througheducation and awareness. Geoheritage values can be defined in two categories: intrinsic andinstrumental. Intrinsic values include definable scientific and ecological values, while aesthetic,cultural, economic, and educational values are presented as instrumental values. Each of thesevalues can contribute to the economic and social development of local communities. However,geotourism faces several threats, including environmental degradation, increased waste, mineralextraction, and unsustainable urban development. These threats can seriously damage geoheritageand increase the need for effective management and conservation. To address these challenges,there is a need to formulate and implement conservation policies, public education, andsustainable tourism development. Creating a balance between tourism exploitation and theconservation of natural resources is key to success in this direction.

Geotourism: Values and Threats Keywords:

Geotourism , Values , Threats , Conservation , Management