Developing geotourism with a focus on geoheritage in a transboundary region: the case of the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO site

Abstract

Recreation in conservation areas has compelled special attention amid international travel restrictions. The tension between the conservation and economic use of these territories is increasing. This work aims to find ways to optimise and modernise environmental outreach and recreation in national parks — one of the conservation area types. Geotourism is a sustainable form of tourism, which bridges the gap between conservation and recreation. Several objectives have been attained to fulfil this aim. Firstly, best practices of geotourism development in conservation areas have been analysed. Secondly, the resource potential for diversifying ecotourism events in conservation areas has been measured. Thirdly, an algorithm for a geological heritage-focused ecotour — an innovative recreation product aimed at eco-education and community outreach — has been designed. The authors view the methodology for geotour design as an instance of heritage preservation and propose a new tourist route — the Geological and Geomorphological Chronicle of the Baltic Sea. This tour acquaints sightseers with the nature of the Curonian Spit national park, a unique geological and geomorphological feature whose landscapes are a product of centuries-long human-nature interactions. Twenty years ago, in 2000, the conservation area was listed by UNESCO as a place of considerable natural significance. The field studies were carried out as part of the international project Ecotour4Natur: Ecotourism as a Tool for the Preservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage within the Lithuania-Russia cross-border cooperation programme 2014—2020. The obtained algorithm for ecological route design may benefit other national parks as well.