Geotourism

Geotourism is tourism focused on geology and landscape — exploring how the Earth works, how landscapes are formed, and how geological processes have shaped the places we visit today. The term geotourism is sometimes used more broadly to describe place-focused tourism that emphasises culture, environment, and a sense of place. In geological and academic contexts, however, geotourism refers specifically to tourism based on geology and geological heritage. This geology-led definition, used by geoparks and Earth science organisations, underpins the use of the term on this website. At its core, geotourism connects people with deep Earth history: mountain building, volcanism, plate tectonics, fossils, climate change, and the processes that continue to shape the planet beneath our feet. Rather than treating landscapes as a backdrop, geotourism seeks to explain the scenery itself.

Scenery explained

At its simplest, geotourism may be thought of as “scenery explained”: using geological insight to make sense of the landscapes we visit. Mountains, coastlines, deserts, and valleys are not random or static. They are the result of long-term geological processes — plate movements, volcanism, erosion, sedimentation, and climate — operating over millions of years. Learning to read landscapes means understanding why a mountain range rises where it does, why a coastline is rugged or smooth, and how deep geological time underpins the modern world. This approach transforms travel from passive sightseeing into active understanding.

Geotourism in practice

In practice, geotourism involves visiting geological sites and landscapes to understand their origin, structure, and significance. This includes rock formations, landforms, fossils, and geological structures, as well as the ways geology influences ecosystems, human settlement, industry, and culture. Geotourism explains why landscapes look the way they do, and how they came to be, turning scenery into story and places into readable chapters of Earth history.

Geotourism and responsibility

A central principle of geotourism is that geological heritage is finite and irreplaceable. Rocks, landforms, and fossil sites cannot be renewed once damaged or destroyed, and responsible access is essential.

Modern geotourism therefore places strong emphasis on:

conservation of geological heritage
education and interpretation
respect for local communities
sustainable use of landscapes

Responsible geotourism also recognises the environmental impacts of travel itself. GeoWorld Travel addresses these issues as part of its wider commitment to responsible travel, with further detail provided elsewhere on the website. This approach is consistent with internationally recognised geotourism principles, including those set out in the Arouca Declaration (Portugal, 2011), developed by geologists, geographers, and geopark organisations.

Geotourism with GeoWorld Travel

GeoWorld Travel was founded by a professional geologist to offer small-group, geology-led travel experiences rooted in real landscapes and recognised geological heritage. A core aim of the company is to visit, explore, and interpret some of the world’s most important and revealing geosites, including geoparks, World Heritage Sites, national parks, and protected landscapes, where geology is formally recognised as central to place and identity. GeoWorld Travel is based within a geopark landscape in Wales, and this day-to-day connection with geological heritage shapes its approach to travel, interpretation, and work within protected areas.

Why geotourism matters

By understanding how landscapes form and change, geotourism offers insight into:

the scale of geological time
natural hazards and climate change
the relationship between Earth processes and human history
the value and fragility of geological heritage

In a world where landscapes are often taken for granted, geotourism encourages curiosity, understanding, and long-term stewardship of the planet.

GeoWorld Travel is committed to responsible, geology-led travel that reflects these principles.

AROUCA DECLARATION

The International Congress of Geotourism, under the auspices of UNESCO, took place in the th th Arouca Geopark (Portugal) from 9 to 13 November 2011. The theme was Geotourism in Action - Arouca 2011. As result of the discussions that took place during this event, the Organizing Committee, in keeping with the principles put forth by the Center for Sustainable Destinations – National Geographic Society presents the Arouca Declaration, which establishes the following:

1. We recognize that there is a need to clarify the concept of geotourism. We therefore believe that geotourism should be defined as tourism which sustains and enhances the identity of a territory, taking into consideration its geology, environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents. Geological tourism is one of the multiple components of geotourism.

2. Geological tourism is a basic tool for the conservation, dissemination and cherishing of the history of Life on Earth, including its dynamics and mechanisms. It enables visitors to understand a past of 4600 million years so as to view the present from another perspective and project possible shared futures for the Earth and humankind.

3. Appreciation of geological heritage should try to break new ground and prioritise the use of new technology over the use of traditional information posters.

4. Knowledge and information about geological heritage is often not presented a way that is easily understood by the general public. As a rule, this information comes in the style of scientific treatises which, besides using highly specialised language, leave visitors in the dark and limit touristic impact. Information must be accessible and intelligible for the general public, presented in a few basic concepts and with clarity, resulting in the combined efforts of scientists, interpretation experts and designers.

5. We thus believe the time has come to resurrect the basic principles of interpretation proposed in 1957 by Freeman Tilden and apply them to geological heritage: - Any presentation of geological heritage that does not somehow relate to something in the personal experience of the visitor will be sterile; - Information is not interpretation. Interpretation is revelation based on information. The two things are entirely different, but all interpretation includes information; - The interpretation of a natural space must provoke and arouse curiosity and emotion much more than teaching;

6. We encourage territories to develop geotourism focused not only on the environment and geological heritage, but also on cultural, historical and scenic value. In this sense, we encourage the effective involvement of local citizens and visitors, so they are not restricted to the role of tourist spectators, thus helping to build a local identity and promote what is authentic and unique in the territory. In this way we ensure that the territory and its inhabitants obtain environmental integrity, social justice and sustainable economic development.

Arouca (Arouca Geopark, Portugal), 12 November 2011