Conservation Management of Geotourism Attractions in Tourism Destinations

Abstract

Over the past 14 years, several geosites have been identified as geotourism all over Iran, and it seems the time has come to define and implement systematic mechanisms in order to conserve this valuable geoheritage. Therefore, using a combined approach, this study aims to answer the question about the conceptual model of conservation management of geotourism attractions. The required data were collected using the archival method; in the following, it is attempted to discover and identify the conceptual model of conservation management of geotourism attractions through reviewing and analyzing the related theories and texts using logical reasoning method. Content validity ratio and one-sample t test have been used to validate the conceptual model. The research findings resulted in the conceptual model of conservation management of geotourism attraction in the form of mutual relationship between three layers of geotourism attraction, people, and government. In the layer of geotourism attraction, the significance of geotourism attraction is indicated by instrumental and intrinsic values. Meanwhile, the integrity of geotourism attractions is in itself an effective factor in attributing instrumental and intrinsic values to geotourism attractions. If the integrity of geotourism attractions is weakened by natural and human threats, naturally it leads to reduced values of geotourism attractions. In the people layer, the values attributed to geotourism attractions are affected by contextual and personal factor of people. However, the analysis of the factors, which cause the demonstration and decrease inconsistency between people’s behavior and belief toward values, is so effective on conservation of geotourism attractions. In the government layer, the government makes an agenda for conserving attractions and their values based on the interaction of people with geotourism attractions through planning, organizing, guiding, and supervising. The results of the conceptual model validation demonstrated that content validity ratio was higher than the acceptable level for all components. Moreover, content validity ratio was 0.92 for the entire model, and 0.94, 0.83, and 1.00 for the three dimensions of geotourism attraction, people, and government, respectively. This indicates the entire model and its dimensions are confirmed by 15 experts. Accordingly, utility hypothesis for the research conceptual model has been confirmed by the experts based on the results of one-sample T test.