Csopak és környékének geoturisztikai felmérése

Abstract

Geotourism has developed rapidly in the last decades. Geosites are the most interesting inanimate formations on Earth, and geotourism and geoheritage facilitate the preservation and popularization of their value. The processes of our planet can be well-interpreted through them. The UNESCO Global Geoparks Network is responsible for gathering, protecting, monitoring and fostering these natural values. More and more communities try to reveal geotourism attractions as they attract a wide group of people with an interest in earth sciences. Our goal is to determine the geotourism potential in the surroundings of Csopak. The studied area is part of the Bakony–Balaton Geopark, which is a part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. This work has a significant importance, as assessment models have not been applied here before. A group of potential geosites has been designated with the help of geological and topographic maps. The fieldwork included 75 sites, and was followed by the application of the Geosite Assessment Model (GAM) and the Modified Geosite Assessment Model (M-GAM). The GAM has been applied in Hungary several times with good results. As the M-GAM takes visitors into consideration, a more realistic and practical result can be produced. The comparison of the two models also provides hints concerning the potential and possible development directions of the sites. The assessment included GIS work, an examination of geological formations and infrastructure, as well as consulting with experts. The final score of a geosite is the sum of its scientific, educational, scenic, and infrastructural values. The final proportion of these values plotted on a matrix diagram determines the geotourism potential and the improvable elements of a geosite. Local communities and the Bakony–Balaton UNESCO Global Geopark have to work together in order to monitor, maintain, and develop natural attractions. The results of the assessment are suitable for new strategies that deal with how geosites could be treated in the way the visitors expect it. The first geological-tourist map of the area helps to disseminate the results of the present study. It is also a didactic tool in the hands of geotourists to discover natural treasures.