Volcano and Geothermal Tourism : Sustainable Geo-Resources for Leisure and Recreation

There are over 1300 active volcanoes worldwide and many more dormant or extinct. Some are developed as tourist destinations; others are not, but have great potential. Mount Fuji in Japan attracts over 100 million visitors per year and has immense cultural and spiritual significance, while a number of volcanic areas in national parks, for example Teide in Spain, Yellowstone in the US, Vesuvius in Italy and Tongariro in New Zealand, attract between one to four million tourists each year. In the last decade the designation of nearly 50 geoparks around the world has highlighted their potential for tourism development. This book provides the first global review and assessment of the sustainable use of active and dormant volcanic and geothermal environments for geotourism. The volcano-based tourism sector is further augmented through a closely linked range of geothermal resources and attractions, such as geysers and hot springs, which are discussed in detail throughout individual chapters covering all key volcanic and geothermal regions around the world. It is shown that volcano and geothermal tourism is a subsection of nature-based geotourism and incorporates a variety of other tourism categories such as adventure tourism, extreme tourism, ecotourism, green tourism, educational tourism, and hot spring tourism. This comprehensive book covers the most important issues of this growing tourism sector whilst incorporating relevant global research, making it an essential resource for all in the field. Includes colour plates. Contents......Page 6 List of Figures, Tables and Boxes......Page 10 List of Contributors......Page 16 Preface......Page 20 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations......Page 22 Part I Introduction......Page 24 Introduction to volcano and geothermal tourism......Page 26 The volcano tourist......Page 28 Volcano and geothermal tourism......Page 30 Volcanoes in history and culture......Page 33 Geophysical background: Volcanic and geothermal processes......Page 35 Risk management: How great is the risk factor?......Page 38 Summary: The New Frontier – volcanic and geothermal destinations......Page 46 The structure of this book......Page 48 References......Page 49 Introduction......Page 56 Virunga National Park......Page 58 Virunga volcanic range: The belt of fire......Page 62 Biomes, wildlife and biodiversity......Page 64 The Virunga National Park: Tourism and heritage......Page 65 Concluding remarks......Page 66 References......Page 67 Geological and structural outlines of Ethiopia......Page 68 Volcano tourism in the Danakil Desert......Page 73 Risk management......Page 74 References......Page 76 Piton de la Fournaise volcano (Furnace Peak)......Page 77 Reference......Page 79 Tourism......Page 80 Geology......Page 82 Risks and risk management......Page 85 References......Page 86 Introduction......Page 88 Introducing the ‘Big Five’ of the Big Island......Page 90 Big Island lava tube values......Page 91 Threats to Big Island lava tube caves......Page 93 The range of tourist lava tube experiences for visitors on the Big Island of Hawai‘i......Page 95 Small group adventure tours promote cave conservation......Page 96 Case study: The Pua Po‘o adventure tour......Page 97 References......Page 98 Volcanic hazards......Page 100 References......Page 105 Introduction......Page 108 Tourism and the Earth sciences (geotourism)......Page 109 Tourism and the curse of natural resources......Page 110 Montserrat case study......Page 111 The role of the MVO......Page 113 Volcanoes as sites of ‘dark’ tourism......Page 114 Summary......Page 115 References......Page 116 Volcanoes of Central America......Page 117 Volcanoes of South America......Page 124 References......Page 128 Geophysical aspects and history of activity......Page 130 Risk management......Page 132 References......Page 133 Geophysical aspects and history of activity......Page 134 Risk management......Page 136 References......Page 137 Geophysical aspects and history of activity......Page 138 Tourism......Page 139 References......Page 140 The aftermath......Page 141 References......Page 142 Location......Page 143 Geophysical aspects and history of activity......Page 144 Risk management......Page 145 References......Page 146 Location......Page 147 Geophysical aspects and history of activity......Page 148 Tourism......Page 149 References......Page 150 Introduction......Page 152 Introduction......Page 154 Impacts of tourism on the volcano......Page 155 The use of tourism planning frameworks in geotourism......Page 157 Issues associated with applying a tourism-planning framework to Sibayak......Page 158 What can be done to build the Sibayak volcano experience as a sustainable international geotourism attraction?......Page 159 Conclusion......Page 163 References......Page 164 Introduction......Page 165 Mount Aso......Page 167 Mt Sakurajima......Page 171 Mt Unzen......Page 172 The Tsurumi dome complex......Page 175 Conclusion......Page 176 References......Page 177 Geological background......Page 178 The cultural and historical significance of the Japanese volcanic environment for tourism......Page 182 Risk management in volcano tourism......Page 186 The likely impact of natural disasters on inbound and domestic tourism......Page 189 Conclusions......Page 190 References......Page 191 Internet sites consulted......Page 192 Volcanic origins......Page 193 Tourism on Jeju......Page 194 The volcanic geotourism attractions of Jeju Island......Page 195 The current status of geotourism on Jeju......Page 200 References......Page 201 Introduction......Page 203 Damavand summit: Geological background......Page 204 Mt Damavand as a volcano tourist destination......Page 205 Mt Damavand as a natural world heritage site......Page 207 Risk management of volcano tourism on Mt Damavand......Page 208 References......Page 209 Volcanic hazards and volcano monitoring in the Philippines......Page 210 Volcano tourism in the Philippines......Page 212 References......Page 218 Tourism......Page 219 References......Page 222 Geophysical aspects and history of activity......Page 223 References......Page 224 Geophysical aspects and history of activity......Page 225 Risk management......Page 227 References......Page 228 Introduction......Page 230 Geology and volcanism......Page 232 Tourism......Page 233 Volcanic and geothermal related tourism......Page 234 Acknowledgements......Page 242 References......Page 243 Summary of important geographic and volcanic characteristics......Page 244 Historical development of volcano tourism at Etna and Stromboli......Page 245 Assessment of the volcanic hazard potential and its impact on tourism......Page 247 Analysis of tourism infrastructures and tourist facilities at Mt Etna and Stromboli......Page 248 Visitors’ demand, profile, interest and activities at Mt Etna and Stromboli......Page 250 Tourism in the protected area of Mt Etna and its ecological and economic impact......Page 253 Conclusions......Page 254 References......Page 255 Introduction......Page 256 Volcano hazard management......Page 257 The National Emergency Plan for the Vesuvian Area......Page 258 Drawing tourism into the hazard management equation......Page 260 Perspectives on the current state of tourism around Vesuvius......Page 261 Breathing new life into Vesuvian tourism......Page 264 Linking tourism to emergency plans......Page 265 Conclusions......Page 267 References......Page 269 Introduction......Page 270 Geological background......Page 272 Cultural and historical significance of the volcanic environment......Page 274 Patterns of tourism......Page 275 Other volcanic areas of France......Page 278 Conclusions......Page 280 References......Page 281 An introduction to Scotland’s ‘west coast’ volcanic tourism......Page 282 The aesthetic landscape movements......Page 283 Scotland’s west coast volcanoes......Page 285 Geotourism in the Highlands and Islands......Page 287 Modern Scottish geotourism......Page 289 Some concluding remarks......Page 293 References......Page 294 Pico Volcano Natural Reserve......Page 295 References......Page 297 Geophysical aspects and history of activity......Page 298 References......Page 299 Geophysical aspects and history of activity......Page 300 Risk factors......Page 301 Tourism......Page 302 References......Page 303 Introduction......Page 304 References......Page 307 Introduction......Page 310 Introduction......Page 312 Geological background......Page 313 Tongariro National Park......Page 316 Risk management......Page 318 Conclusions......Page 322 References......Page 323 Classifying volcanic landforms......Page 325 Small (monogenetic) volcanoes......Page 326 The young volcanoes of south-eastern Australia......Page 328 The Kanawinka Geopark of south-east Australia as an example of volcano tourism......Page 330 Threats to the volcanic landforms in the Kanawinka Geopark......Page 332 References......Page 333 Tourism in Australia......Page 335 Volcanic landforms in Australia......Page 337 Volcanic environments of New South Wales......Page 341 References......Page 343 Yasur volcano......Page 345 References......Page 346 Historical aspects......Page 347 Current focus......Page 349 Potential conflict between geothermal power and touristic exploitation......Page 350 References......Page 351 A visit to Pendulum Cove......Page 352 References......Page 353 Part VII......Page 354 Concluding remarks......Page 356 What do the experts say?......Page 357 Recommendations for the development of safety guidelines for tourism in active volcanic environments......Page 360 Final comments......Page 362 References......Page 363 Appendix 1 An Overview of Recent Volcanic Activity Worldwide......Page 364 Appendix 2 Major Volcanoes Worldwide......Page 368 Appendix 3......Page 378 Appendix 4 Useful Websites......Page 379 Index......Page 382 Colour plates......Page 402 There Are Over 1300 Active Volcanoes Worldwide And Many More Dormant Or Extinct. Some Are Developed As Tourist Destinations; Others Are Not, But Have Great Potential. Mount Fuji In Japan Attracts Over 100 Million Visitors Per Year And Has Immense Cultural And Spiritual Significance, While A Number Of Volcanic Areas In National Parks, For Example Teide In Spain, Yellowstone In The Us, Vesuvius In Italy And Tongariro In New Zealand, Attract Between One To Four Million Tourists Each Year. In The Last Decade The Designation Of Nearly 50 Geoparks Around The World Has Highlighted Their Potential For Tourism Development. This Book Provides The First Global Review And Assessment Of The Sustainable Use Of Active And Dormant Volcanic And Geothermal Environments For Geotourism. Part I: Introduction -- 1. Introduction -- Part Ii: Africa -- Introduction -- 2. Africa's Great Volcanoes Of The Albertine Rift Valley -- 3. Volcano Tourism In Ethiopia And The Danakil Rift Zone -- Case Study 1: Reunion Island, France -- Piton De La Fournaise Volcano -- Case Study 2: Cap Verde Islands -- Case Study 3: East Africa -- Volcanoes, Glaciers And Safari Parks -- Part Iii: The Americas -- Introduction -- 4. The Lure Of Lava Tubes: Exploring Lava Tube Tourism On The Big Island Of Hawai'i -- 5. Geotourism And Public Safety In Volcanic Environments -- 6. The Economics Of Volcano Tourism With Special Reference To Montserrat, West Indies -- 7. Volcano Tourism -- Central And South American Examples -- Case Study 4: The Cascades -- Connecting Canada And The United States -- Case Study 5: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming -- Case Study 6: The Galapagos Islands -- Volcanoes And Wildlife -- Case Study 7: Death By Volcanic Laze -- Case Study 8: Alaska's Volcanoes --^ The Aleutian Arc And Wilderness -- Case Study 9: Active Volcanoes In Mexico As Tourist Destinations -- Part Iv: Asia -- Introduction -- 8. The Need For A Planning Framework To Preserve The Wilderness Values Of Sibayak Volcano, North Sumatra, Indonesia -- 9. Volcano And Geothermal Tourism In Kyushu, Japan -- 10. Volcano And Geothermal Tourism In Japan -- Examples From Honshu And Hokkaido -- 11. Jeju: South Korea's Premier Island Geotourism Destination -- 12. Volcano Tourism In Iran: Mt. Damavand, The Highest Peak In The Middle East -- 13. Volcano Tourism In The Philippines -- Case Study 10: Challenging Destinations -- The World Heritage Listed Volcanoes Of Kamchatka -- Case Study 11: Krakatau, Indonesia, A Volcano With A History -- Case Study 12: Geothermal Attractions And Active Volcanoes In China -- Part V: Europe -- Introduction -- 14. Emerging Volcano And Geothermal Related Tourism In Iceland -- 15. Volcano Tourism And Its Influence On The Territory Of Mount Etna (italy) --^ Explored With Digressions To Stromboli (italy) -- 16. Under The Volcano -- Can Sustainable Tourism Development Be Balanced With Risk Management? -- 17. The Auvergne -- Centre Of Volcanic Tourism In France -- 18. Volcanic Geotourism In West Coast Scotland -- Case Study 13: The Azores -- Volcanic Islands In The Atlantic -- Case Study 14: The Canary Islands -- Volcanic World Heritage Of Spain -- Case Study 15: Greece -- Currently Dormant Volcanicislands -- Case Study 16: The Vulkaneifel -- A Tourist Destination With A Long History -- Part Vi: Oceania -- Introduction -- 19. The Volcanoes Of New Zealand -- 20. Volcano Tourism In The New Kanawinka Global Geopark Of Victoria And Se South Australia -- 21. Volcanic Landforms As Tourist Attractions In Australian National Parks And Other Protected Areas -- Case Study 17: Vanuatu -- Active Volcanism In The Pacific -- Case Study 18: Geothermal Parks In New Zealand -- Case Study 19: Deception Island -- Hot Times On A Chilly Continent -- Part Vii --^ 22. Conclusion. Edited By Patricia Erfurt-cooper And Malcolm Cooper. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. For most people it may come as a surprise that there are over 1300 active volcanoes worldwide and many more dormant or extinct. While not all of them can be reached this still means an abundance of destinations for people with an interest in volcanic and geothermal environments. Some are developed as tourist destinations; others are not, but have great potential. The diversity of complementary landscape features also makes volcanic and geothermal landforms very attractive to a broad spectrum of visitors. Visiting active volcanic and geothermal environments is not new. This form of tourism was included in the Grand Tour undertaken by many affluent Europeans several centuries ago in order to broaden their horizons. The geothermal regions of Italy, Greece and Iceland are well documented as prime destinations of this era. Today Mount Fuji in Japan attracts over 100 million visitors per year and has immense cultural and spiritual significance, while a number of volcanic areas in national parks, for example Teide in Spain, Yellowstone in the US, Vesuvius in Italy and Tongariro in New Zealand, attract between one to four million tourists each year. In the last decade the designation of nearly 50 geoparks around the world has highlighted their potential for tourism development.