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““Geotourism – The Key Driver of Geotourism – The Key Driver of Tourism for Regional Australia” – SEGRA Tourism for Regional Australia” – SEGRA

20162016

Angus M RobinsonAngus M RobinsonChair, Geotourism Standing CommitteeChair, Geotourism Standing Committee

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

Natural & Cultural Heritage, and GeotourismNatural & Cultural Heritage, and Geotourism Australian National LandscapesAustralian National Landscapes Australian Geotrail DevelopmentAustralian Geotrail Development Aspiring Geopark Development in AustraliaAspiring Geopark Development in Australia Opportunities for Australia- China CollaborationOpportunities for Australia- China Collaboration Take AwaysTake Aways

Understanding Natural HeritageUnderstanding Natural Heritage

Natural heritage is the legacy of natural Natural heritage is the legacy of natural objects and intangible attributes objects and intangible attributes encompassing the encompassing the countrysidecountryside and and natural environmentnatural environment, including flora and , including flora and fauna, scientifically known as fauna, scientifically known as BIODIVERSITYBIODIVERSITY, and , and geology, landforms geology, landforms and soil landscapes, i.e. GEODIVERSITYand soil landscapes, i.e. GEODIVERSITY..

Environment, Natural & Cultural HeritageEnvironment, Natural & Cultural Heritagecomprises the following:comprises the following:1. 1. AAbioticbiotic – non-living aspects such as the climate & – non-living aspects such as the climate & geology e.g. landscape and landforms: geology 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. CCultural ultural – past & present, non-living & built– past & present, non-living & built

Parts Parts B+CB+C are well interpreted within tourism, especially are well interpreted within tourism, especially through ecotourism and cultural tourism, through ecotourism and cultural tourism, but but AA has has typically not been well addressed in Australia.typically not been well addressed in Australia.

Source: Dowling, 2013

Geotourism incorporating Geotourism incorporating all types of ‘nature-based’ tourismall types of ‘nature-based’ tourism

Sightseeing

Cuisine

AgritourismIndigenou

sTourism

HeritageTourism

CulturalTourism

ECOTOURISM

GeotourismGeotourismi.e. ‘experientiali.e. ‘experiential tourism’tourism’

Geotourism – Diversity of SitesGeotourism – Diversity of Sites

Geotourism(‘nature-based’)

IconsIcons((Inc National Landscapes)Inc National Landscapes)

Mine SitesNational Parks/Reserves/

Urban Parks

GeotrailsGeotrails

Geo-sitesGeo-sites

GeoparksGeoparks/PaleoParks

Caves/Karst Areas

Landforms

WHAsWHAs

Australia’s National Landscapes ProgrammeAustralia’s National Landscapes ProgrammePartnership between tourism and conservation that aims to:Partnership between tourism and conservation that aims to: Promote Promote world class, high quality world class, high quality visitor experiencesvisitor experiences Increase the Increase the value of tourism to regional economiesvalue of tourism to regional economies Enhance the Enhance the role of protected areas role of protected areas in those economiesin those economies Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assets Build support for protecting our natural and cultural assets Engage Engage local communitieslocal communities

A long term A long term strategicstrategic approach approach

‘‘To differentiate To differentiate Australia’s Australia’s iconic natural and cultural iconic natural and cultural destinationsdestinations from anything from anything else available in the worldelse available in the world’

Australia’s 16 National Australia’s 16 National LandscapesLandscapes

Alice Springs

Uluru

Australia’s Red CentreAustralia’s Red CentreNational LandscapeNational LandscapeNorthern TerrorityNorthern Terrority

‘‘features an ancient landscape with features an ancient landscape with erosionalerosional remnants (geosites) linked to a common remnants (geosites) linked to a common geological heritage’geological heritage’

Island of Tasmania Australia’s Red Centre National Australia’s Red Centre National LandscapeLandscape

Iconic Geotourism Themes of Iconic 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

Why Geotrails?Why Geotrails?1.1. Relates directly to the tourism experience of a Relates directly to the tourism experience of a

journey linking destinationsjourney linking destinations..2.2. In Australia, unlike geoparks, In Australia, unlike geoparks, geotrails have geotrails have

widespread appealwidespread appeal, and do not compete with , and do not compete with or impact on land management/access issues.or impact on land management/access issues.

3.3. Geotrails are relatively easy to establish and Geotrails are relatively easy to establish and represent a represent a very cost effective means of very cost effective means of enhancing regional developmentenhancing regional development..

Best Practice GeotrailsBest Practice Geotrails1.1. Should be constructed around Should be constructed around routes currently routes currently

used by touristsused by tourists; geotrails should form logical ; geotrails should form logical journeys linking accommodation destinations.journeys linking accommodation destinations.

2.2. Should Should meld the geological heritage features meld the geological heritage features of a region with a cohesive STORY.of a region with a cohesive STORY.

3.3. ShouldShould incorporate and package in the incorporate and package in the biodiversity and cultural components biodiversity and cultural components (including mining heritage) (including mining heritage) of the region of the region through which the geotrail traverses.through which the geotrail traverses.

UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKSWhere are the geoparks?

There are 120 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).

UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKS

IS A GEOPARK JUST ABOUT GEOLOGY?IS A GEOPARK JUST ABOUT GEOLOGY?No! No! While a geopark must demonstrate geological heritage of international significance, While a geopark must demonstrate geological heritage of international significance, the the purpose of a geopark is to explore, develop and celebrate the links between that geological purpose of a geopark is to explore, develop and celebrate the links between that geological heritage and all other aspects of the areas natural, cultural and intangible heritagesheritage and all other aspects of the areas natural, cultural and intangible heritages. It is It is about reconnecting human society at all levels to the planet we all call home and to about reconnecting human society at all levels to the planet we all call home and to celebrate how our planet and it’s 4,600 million year long history has shaped every aspect of celebrate how our planet and it’s 4,600 million year long history has shaped every aspect of our lives and our societiesour lives and our societies. .

Zhanjiajie, China

UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological international geological significance significance are managed with a managed with a holistic concept of protection, holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable education and sustainable developmentdevelopment.

Key Factors Key Factors Geopark Development In Australia - 2016Geopark Development In Australia - 2016

Geopark development needs to be Geopark development needs to be state/local state/local government agency government agency initiatedinitiated and supported and supported..

A A high level of community engagement high level of community engagement is essential to is essential to meet UNESCO requirementsmeet UNESCO requirements

The key driver of geopark development must be focused on regional developmentregional development – i.e. jobs and growth – i.e. jobs and growth

The The approval of government Geological Surveys approval of government Geological Surveys for for individual projects is an absolute necessity.individual projects is an absolute necessity.

Federal Government approval for UNESCO nomination Federal Government approval for UNESCO nomination may well be achieved if may well be achieved if state government state government ‘ownership’/endorsement and funding is clearly ‘ownership’/endorsement and funding is clearly establishedestablished..

National Landscapes & UNESCO Global National Landscapes & UNESCO Global GeoparksGeoparks

HaveHave similar goalssimilar goals relating to local development relating to local development and and community engagement community engagement as well as education as well as education and experiential tourism and experiential tourism (‘geotourism’).(‘geotourism’).

Both Both require government approval require government approval but with but with different government stakeholdersdifferent government stakeholders. .

However, the Australian However, the Australian National Landscape National Landscape Programme Programme has been formerly disbandoned by its has been formerly disbandoned by its government sponsors, but the government sponsors, but the iconic landscapes iconic landscapes and their communities are still very much in placeand their communities are still very much in place! !

A partnership between the A partnership between the National and State GovernmentsNational and State Governments

Pre-AspiringPre-Aspiring Warrumbungles UNESCO Global Geopark Warrumbungles UNESCO Global Geopark New South Wales New South Wales

CurrentlyCurrently comprising the comprising the Shires of Warrambungle, Shires of Warrambungle, Gilgandra and Coonamble, Gilgandra and Coonamble, 27,000 sq km in area27,000 sq km in area

Pre-AspiringPre-Aspiring Warrumbungles WarrumbunglesUNESCO Global Geopark,UNESCO Global Geopark,New South WalesNew South Wales

Outstanding Miocene Outstanding Miocene Shield Volcano Shield Volcano remnant landforms remnant landforms close to a major coal close to a major coal development area development area located in the located in the Warrumbungles Warrumbungles National Park National Park (236 (236 square km area) at the square km area) at the intersection of the intersection of the three local government three local government areas.areas.

The Proposed Savannah Way Geotrail linked to the Pre-AspiringEtheridge UNESCO Global Geopark in the state of Queensland

Pre-AspiringPre-Aspiring Etheridge UNESCO Global Geopark, Etheridge UNESCO Global Geopark, QueenslandQueensland

Comprising the Comprising the entire Shire ofentire Shire ofEtheridgeEtheridge, and including areas of, and including areas ofoutstanding volcanic and miningoutstanding volcanic and miningHeritage - embracing someHeritage - embracing some40,000 sq km.40,000 sq km.

Other Australian Geotourism InitiativesOther Australian Geotourism Initiatives State of New South Wales: State of New South Wales: GeoTreat supported ‘GeoJourney’ in the GeoTreat 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 potential is not actively progressing any geopark potential

projects, but is very keen to support the development of geotrails and projects, but is very keen to support the development of geotrails and geotourism through exceptional geological heritage, especially through geotourism 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).

Australia-China Memorandum of CooperationAustralia-China Memorandum of CooperationThe GSA and the Geological Society of ChinaThe GSA and the Geological Society of China

Executed June 2016Executed June 2016

The Australia-China relationship is becoming The Australia-China relationship is becoming more important more important with the increasing level of with the increasing level of economic, social and cultural activities in the economic, social and cultural activities in the coming decades.coming decades.

The Memorandum of Cooperation will be focused on The Memorandum of Cooperation will be focused on growing and enhancing best practice nature-based growing and enhancing best practice nature-based tourism (i.e. geotourism) tourism (i.e. geotourism) in both countries.in both countries.

Tourism park managers could play a significant Tourism park managers could play a significant role in role in establishing ‘sister’ relationships between establishing ‘sister’ relationships between parks, as a key driver of future geotourism.parks, as a key driver of future geotourism.

Take-AwaysTake-Aways Regional development imperatives Regional development imperatives (growth and jobs) (growth and jobs)

are now driving geotourism initiatives in Australia.are now driving geotourism initiatives in Australia. Creating geotrails Creating geotrails is arguably the easiest way of is arguably the easiest way of

providing early pathways and support from providing early pathways and support from governments for geotourism activities in Australia.governments for geotourism activities in Australia.

Successful roll-out of Successful roll-out of geotrails will instill confidence in geotrails will instill confidence in geotourism,geotourism, providing a providing a future pathway to geopark future pathway to geopark establishment establishment and development in Australia.and development in Australia.

State and Local Government inspired and backed State and Local Government inspired and backed geopark/geotrail initiatives geopark/geotrail initiatives are now emerging.are now emerging.

Contact DetailsContact Details

angus@leisuresolutions.com.auTel: + 61 418 488 340Tel: + 61 418 488 340

http://www.leisuresolutions.com.au/index.php/geotourism-industry-groups/

http://www.geoexpro.com/articles/2016/04/australia-s-big-red-centre