Volcanic Geoheritage and Geotourism Perspectives in Hungary: a Case of an UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape, Hungary

Abstract

In protected areas (e.g. geoparks, UNESCO sites), the identification of the different aspects of geoheritage site values is part of a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. In the past years, significant progress has been achieved in the volcano tourism in Hungary as shown by the acceptance of two geoparks as members of Global Geoparks Network. They are the Bakony–Balaton Geopark and the Novohrad–Nograd Geopark, which involves also the old village of Hollokő UNESCO cultural heritage site. These geoparks as well as the recently (2013) opened Kemenes Volcano Park used primarily the volcanological natural values in their application, and these play still an important role to attract the visitors. The Tokaj Wine Region (TWR) Historic Cultural Landscape (inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2002 as a cultural site) is also characterized by high geodiversity due to complex volcanic settings (andesite–dacite composite cones, silicic pyroclastites, lava domes, hydrothermal activity) and specialized viticultural land use of the cultural landscape. While the area of the Bakony–Balaton Geopark is situated in a well-known region and has a long tradition in tourism with a lot of innovation, the Tokaj wine region needs a significant effort to introduce their volcanic geoheritage values into the tourism market. The systematic inventory and assessment of the geoheritage elements are essential steps in different scales of geoconservation and establishment of the priorities in site management. This inventory work emphasizes the relationship between the sites at different scales and highlights the interaction between eroded volcanic relief and human activity. The inventory classifies the objects in two main geosite categories: (a) volcanic edifices resulting from denudation and inversion of the relief and (b) geodiversity sites connected to land use traditions of the cultural landscape. The assessment evaluates the scientific, cultural/historical, aesthetic and socio-economic values and helps to define priorities in site management. The recently suggested 900 km long, cross-Hungary volcano route starts at the TWR and involves additional 50 planned stations all along the country. They represent various volcanological phenomena from silicic ignimbrite sheets through andesitic stratocones to basaltic volcanic fields. These meet significant historic, cultural, gastronomic tourism attractions to support the promotion of volcanic geoheritage.