Abstract
The island of Kalymnos, located in the Dodecanese island complex in the SE Aegean, is known for its sponge fishing but also for its world-famous climbing fields. Indeed, the island is considered the “Mecca” of climbers. Nevertheless, Kalymnos is characterized by moderate tourist traffic and lack of tourism infrastructure. The planning and development of geotourism can be a driving force for the economic sustainability of the island. In this study, the possibility of developing the innovative and alternative form of geotourism on the island of Kalymnos is explored. Kalymnos is characterized by numerous caves and steep slopes which can be geotopes attractive to visitors. Six caverns and two climbing fields were analyzed as part of our investigation. For the quantitative assessment of the geosites three factors are considered: the potential educational use (PEU), the potential touristic use (PTU), and the degradation risk (DR). The quantitative evaluation in combination with a SWOT analysis showed that there is indeed a possibility of promotion and development of geotourism in combination with the protection of the island’s geotopes. This will give additional impetus to the economy of Kalymnos. However, the lack of awareness from local authorities and residents is evident. The need for training in matters related to the geological heritage is necessary. In this way, there will be geotourism development, contributing positively to the economic prosperity and sustainability of the island.
Highlights
Tourism constitutes a significant social phenomenon with rapid development and societal acceptance all over the world
The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the climbing fields and caves of Kalymnos can serve as a focal point for an alternative kind of geotourism in which the visitor combines his geological interest in the above formations with recreation, sports, Heritage 2021, 4 lack of infrastructure
Examining both the scientific and educational criteria at first glance, it is discovered that the geological areas of the island that are of great interest fulfil the entire range of criteria
Summary
Tourism constitutes a significant social phenomenon with rapid development and societal acceptance all over the world. In Greece, the tourism industry is one of the most important industries, with a considerable contribution to the Greek economy since revenues from this activity already account for a significant share of GDP [2]. The competitiveness of the Greek tourism industry is already under threat, owing to structural characteristics and inherent limitations, as well as severe international competition. To overcome these limitations and boost the Greek economy, Greek society is looking for new, innovative, and alternative forms of tourism [3]
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