Ecotourism Australia has been working with key industry stakeholders to prepare Australia’s Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025 and Action Plan. There is currently no collaborative, nation-wide strategy to maximise and realise the potential for nature-based tourism by bringing key stakeholders together to draft a strategy that builds on current state and territory based plans, previous successes, lessons and learnings. The strategy’s stated vision is that Australia should realise the potential of nature-based tourism to make a major contribution to the development of more diverse, sustainable and resilient regions. Regional Australia is suffering from declining resource sector jobs and investment, a dwindling revenue base and demographic shifts as people move to seek employment opportunities in cities. Whilst nature-based tourism is offered as part of the solution with the recognition that a focused, co-ordinated, innovative and co-operative approach can make a meaningful difference to many regional communities, this strategy does need to embrace geotourism as a key delivery mechanism. Geotourism is an emerging global phenomenon which fosters tourism based upon landscapes. Its definition has recently been defined as a form of tourism that specifically focuses on the geology and landscapes which shape the character of a region. This advances an earlier concept of geotourism as strictly ‘geological tourism’ to the extent that it is now accepted globally that geotourism offers strong experiential characteristics, embracing all elements of natural and cultural heritage, inclusive of ecotourism and indigenous tourism values.

1. ““Role of Geotourism in Australia’s Nature
Based Tourism Strategy 2025” - GlobalEco 2016” - GlobalEco 2016
Angus M RobinsonAngus M Robinson
Geotourism Forum, Ecotourism AustraliaGeotourism Forum, Ecotourism Australia

2. Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda
 Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025
 Natural & Cultural Heritage, Ecotourism and GeotourismNatural & Cultural Heritage, Ecotourism and Geotourism
 Australian National LandscapesAustralian National Landscapes
 Australian Geotrail and Aspiring Geopark Development inAustralian Geotrail and Aspiring Geopark Development in
AustraliaAustralia
 Take AwaysTake Aways

3. Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025Nature Based Tourism Strategy 2025
 Ecotourism Australia has been working with keyEcotourism Australia has been working with key
industry stakeholders to prepareindustry stakeholders to prepare Australia’s NatureAustralia’s Nature
Based Tourism Strategy 2025Based Tourism Strategy 2025 andand Action PlanAction Plan..
 There is currentlyThere is currently no collaborative, nation-wideno collaborative, nation-wide
strategystrategy to maximise and realise the potential forto maximise and realise the potential for
nature-based tourism.nature-based tourism.
 Geotourism offers strong experientialGeotourism offers strong experiential
characteristicscharacteristics, embracing all elements of natural, embracing all elements of natural
and cultural heritage, inclusive of ecotourism andand cultural heritage, inclusive of ecotourism and
indigenous tourism values.indigenous tourism values.

4. Understanding Natural HeritageUnderstanding Natural Heritage
Natural heritage is the legacy of naturalNatural heritage is the legacy of natural
objects and intangible attributesobjects and intangible attributes
encompassing theencompassing the countrysidecountryside andand naturalnatural
environmentenvironment, including flora and fauna,, including flora and fauna,
scientifically known asscientifically known as BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY, and, and
geology, landforms and soil landscapes, i.e.geology, landforms and soil landscapes, i.e.
GEODIVERSITYGEODIVERSITY..

5. Key Concepts – EcotourismKey Concepts – Ecotourism
“Ecotourism is ecologically sustainableecologically sustainable
tourismtourism with a primary focus on
experiencing natural areasexperiencing natural areas that fosters
environmental and cultural understanding,
appreciation and conservation”
But ecotourismecotourism per se is too narrowly defined
and is increasingly seen as a niche marketniche market.

6. Geotourism DefinitionGeotourism Definition
‘Geotourism is tourism which focuses on an
area's geology and landscapegeology and landscape as the basis for
providing visitor engagement, learning and
enjoyment’.

7. Environment, Natural & Cultural HeritageEnvironment, Natural & Cultural Heritage
comprises the following:comprises the following:
1.1. AAbioticbiotic – non-living aspects such as the climate & geology– non-living aspects such as the climate & geology
e.g. landscape and landforms:e.g. landscape and landforms: GEODIVERSITYGEODIVERSITY
2.2. BBioticiotic – the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora– the living parts eg. fauna (animals) and flora
(plants):(plants): BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY
3.3. CCulturalultural – past & present, non-living & built– past & present, non-living & built
PartsParts B+CB+C are well interpreted within tourism, especially throughare well interpreted within tourism, especially through
ecotourism and cultural tourism,ecotourism and cultural tourism, butbut AA has typically not been wellhas typically not been well
addressed in Australia.addressed in Australia.
Source: Dowling, 2013

8. Geotourism incorporatingGeotourism incorporating
all types of ‘nature-based’ tourismall types of ‘nature-based’ tourism
Sightseeing
Cuisine
Agritourism
Indigenous
Tourism
Heritage
Tourism
Cultural
Tourism
ECOTOURISM
GeotourismGeotourism
i.e. ‘experientiali.e. ‘experiential
tourism’tourism’

9. Geotourism – Diversity of PlacesGeotourism – Diversity of Places
GeotourismGeotourism
IconsIcons
(Inc National Landscapes)
Mine Sites
National ParksNational Parks/Reserves//Reserves/
Urban ParksUrban Parks
GeotrailsGeotrails
Geo-sitesGeo-sites
Geoparks/Geoparks/
PaleoParksPaleoParks
Caves/Karst Areas
LandformsLandforms
WHAsWHAs
Geo VillagesGeo Villages

10. Nature Based Tourism – Potential MarketsNature Based Tourism – Potential Markets
‘‘Geotourism’ = nature-basedGeotourism’ = nature-based
Domestic TravellersDomestic Travellers
EcotouristsEcotourists
School GroupsSchool Groups
‘‘Geotourism’=Geotourism’=
nature-basednature-based
Overseas TravellersOverseas Travellers
Geopark InterestsGeopark Interests

11. UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKS
Where are the geoparks?
There are 120 UNESCO Global Geoparks120 UNESCO Global Geoparks spread across 33 countries and 5 continents. This includes 69 in
Europe as part of the European Geoparks Network (founded in 2000) and 46 in the Asia-Pacific region as part of
the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network (founded in 2009).
Geoparques
Mundiais da
UNESCO
Organização
das Nações Unidas
para a Educação,
Ciência e Cultura

12. Australia’s National Landscapes ProgrammeAustralia’s National Landscapes Programme
Partnership between tourism and conservation that aims to:Partnership between tourism and conservation that aims to:
 PromotePromote world class, high qualityworld class, high quality visitor experiencesvisitor experiences
 Increase theIncrease the value of tourism to regional economiesvalue of tourism to regional economies
 Enhance theEnhance the role of protected areasrole of protected areas in those economiesin those economies
 Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assetsBuild support for protecting our natural and cultural assets
 EngageEngage local communitieslocal communities
A long termA long term strategicstrategic approachapproach
‘‘To differentiateTo differentiate Australia’sAustralia’s
iconic natural and culturaliconic natural and cultural
destinationsdestinations from anything elsefrom anything else
available in the worldavailable in the world’

13. Australia’s 16 National LandscapesAustralia’s 16 National Landscapes

14. National Landscapes & UNESCO Global GeoparksNational Landscapes & UNESCO Global Geoparks
 HaveHave similar goalssimilar goals relating to local development andrelating to local development and
community engagementcommunity engagement as well as education andas well as education and
experiential tourismexperiential tourism (‘geotourism’).(‘geotourism’).
 BothBoth require government approvalrequire government approval but withbut with differentdifferent
government stakeholdersgovernment stakeholders..
 However, the AustralianHowever, the Australian National LandscapeNational Landscape
ProgrammeProgramme has been formerly disbandoned by itshas been formerly disbandoned by its
government sponsors, but thegovernment sponsors, but the iconic landscapes andiconic landscapes and
their communities are still very much in placetheir communities are still very much in place!!

15. Alice Springs
Uluru
Australia’s Red CentreAustralia’s Red Centre
National LandscapeNational Landscape
Northern TerrorityNorthern Terrority
‘‘features an ancient landscape with erosionalfeatures an ancient landscape with erosional
remnants (geosites) linked to a commonremnants (geosites) linked to a common
geological heritage’geological heritage’

16. Island of Tasmania
Australia’s Red Centre National LandscapeAustralia’s Red Centre National Landscape

18. Iconic Geotourism Themes ofIconic Geotourism Themes of
Australia’s Red Centre National LandscapeAustralia’s Red Centre National Landscape
 AA: Landforms and common geological heritage: Landforms and common geological heritage
 BB: Red Kangaroo species, and other type: Red Kangaroo species, and other type
flora/faunaflora/fauna
 CC: Indigenous (and European) culture: Indigenous (and European) culture

19. Why Geotrails?Why Geotrails?
1.1. Relates directly to the tourism experience of aRelates directly to the tourism experience of a
journey linking destinationsjourney linking destinations..
2.2. In Australia, unlike geoparks,In Australia, unlike geoparks, geotrails havegeotrails have
widespread appealwidespread appeal, and do not compete with or, and do not compete with or
impact on land management/access issues.impact on land management/access issues.
3.3. Geotrails are relatively easy to establish andGeotrails are relatively easy to establish and
represent arepresent a very cost effective means of enhancingvery cost effective means of enhancing
regional developmentregional development..

20. Best Practice GeotrailsBest Practice Geotrails
1.1. Should be constructed aroundShould be constructed around routes currently usedroutes currently used
by touristsby tourists; geotrails should form logical journeys; geotrails should form logical journeys
linking accommodation destinations.linking accommodation destinations.
2.2. ShouldShould meld the geological heritage features of ameld the geological heritage features of a
region with a cohesive STORY.region with a cohesive STORY.
3.3. ShouldShould incorporate and package in the biodiversityincorporate and package in the biodiversity
and cultural components (including mining heritage)and cultural components (including mining heritage)
of the region through which the geotrail traverses.of the region through which the geotrail traverses.

21. ‘‘The Living Earth’ – Cradle Coast GeotrailThe Living Earth’ – Cradle Coast Geotrail

22. Other Australian Geotourism InitiativesOther Australian Geotourism Initiatives
 State of New South Wales:State of New South Wales: GeoTreat supported ‘GeoJourney’ in theGeoTreat supported ‘GeoJourney’ in the
Australian Coastal Wilderness National Landscape.Australian Coastal Wilderness National Landscape.
 State of Victoria:State of Victoria: Volcano Discovery Trail (Kanawinka related).Volcano Discovery Trail (Kanawinka related).
 State of Western Australia:State of Western Australia: Various geotrail project proposals (e.g.Various geotrail project proposals (e.g.
Murchison, Coolgardie) and potential ‘geopark concept’ opportunitiesMurchison, Coolgardie) and potential ‘geopark concept’ opportunities
 State of South Australia:State of South Australia: is not actively progressing any geopark potentialis not actively progressing any geopark potential
projects, but is very keen to support the development of geotrails andprojects, but is very keen to support the development of geotrails and
geotourism through exceptional geological heritage, especially throughgeotourism through exceptional geological heritage, especially through
Kangaroo Island and the Flinders Ranges National Landscapes.Kangaroo Island and the Flinders Ranges National Landscapes.
 State of Tasmania:State of Tasmania: West Coast ‘Living Earth’ – CradleCoast GeoTrail.West Coast ‘Living Earth’ – CradleCoast GeoTrail.
 Northern Territory:Northern Territory: Potential Geotrails (Red Centre, Savannah Way).Potential Geotrails (Red Centre, Savannah Way).

23. Pre-AspiringPre-Aspiring Warrumbungles UNESCO Global GeoparkWarrumbungles UNESCO Global Geopark
New South WalesNew South Wales
CurrentlyCurrently comprising the Shirescomprising the Shires
of Warrambungle, Gilgandraof Warrambungle, Gilgandra
and Coonamble, 27,000 sq kmand Coonamble, 27,000 sq km
in areain area

24. The Proposed Savannah Way Geotrail linked to the Pre-Aspiring
Etheridge UNESCO Global Geopark in the state of Queensland

25. Take-AwaysTake-Aways
 Regional development imperativesRegional development imperatives (growth and jobs) are now(growth and jobs) are now
driving geotourism initiatives in Australia.driving geotourism initiatives in Australia.
 The incorporation of the geotourism experience (with
traditional nature- based tourism and elements of othertraditional nature- based tourism and elements of other
‘place based’ tourism)‘place based’ tourism) creates a more holistic experience,
and is a move towards the experiential tourism modelexperiential tourism model.
 Australia has a big future for geotourismbig future for geotourism particularly given
the emerging demand from overseas marketsoverseas markets..
 State and Local Government inspired and backedState and Local Government inspired and backed
geopark/geotrail initiativesgeopark/geotrail initiatives are now emerging.are now emerging.

26. Contact DetailsContact Details
angus@leisuresolutions.com.auangus@leisuresolutions.com.au
Tel: + 61 418 488 340Tel: + 61 418 488 340
http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groupshttp://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groups//
http://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2016/04/australia-s-big-red-centrehttp://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2016/04/australia-s-big-red-centre