Research progress of geo-tourism

Geo-tourism is a new form of eco-tourism and sustainable tourism that has been gradually developed in recent 30 years. Since the concept of geo-tourism was born in 1990s, scholars all over the world have paid more and more attention to the study of geo-tourism. At present, the theoretical research of geo-tourism in the world mainly focuses on the definition, investigation, evaluation and planning of geo-tourism resources, classification, protection and development of geo-tourism resources, construction and management of geo-parks, and development strategies of geo-tourism products. , and has not yet formed a complete system.

I. Research progress abroad

The concept of geo-tourism was first put forward by Hose in 1995, and the term "geo-tourism" with different meanings was put forward by the National Federation of Geography and Tourism Industry in 1997. Subsequently, many scholars participated in the discussion and research on these two definitions of geo-tourism and gave them deeper meanings (Stueve et al., 2002; Stokes et al., 2003; Newsom and Dowling, 2006; Tomkul, 2006; James and hoses, 2008; Dowling, 2009), but there is no unified understanding.

In recent 30 years, foreign scholars have expounded the development, management, promotion and coordination with local interests of geological tourism from many aspects. There are ways to develop tourism through research and utilization of abandoned mines, so as to awaken the vitality of mines and increase their value (Calaforra and Fernández-Cortés, 2006); Study on the safety of geo-tourism activities in volcanoes or geothermal hot springs (Heggie, 2009); To study the feasibility and capacity of geological tourism in geological relic sites, so as to protect the geological relic environment and the geological relic itself from destruction (Fernández-Cortés et al., 2006); Study on Eco-tourism and Sustainable Development of Natural Heritage Sites (Spenceley, 2005; Billington et al., 2008); The geological value of world heritage and the potential of developing geological tourism (Alexandrowicz, 2009); The relationship between geoparks and geotourism (Zouros, 2004; Zouros and McKeever, 2009); The influence of geological relic tourism on local economy, employment, infrastructure construction and residents' income (Walpole and Goodwin, 2000; Valtiti and Malaki, 2008; Dowling，2009)； It is believed that geo-tourism expands the content of regional sustainable tourism (Hose, 2007); Some scholars study how to introduce geological knowledge that is too far away and unattractive in daily life to ordinary people, compile a non-academic geological catalogue, stimulate people's curiosity through geological landscape, and arouse people's attention to earth science (Bertolini and Centineo, 2005); Importance of local culture to geological tourism (Weber, 2009; Lemon et al., 2009); Educational and leisure functions of geo-tourism (Eder and Patzak, 2004; Grosbois and Eder, 2008); Tourists' cognition and expectation of geo-tourism (Boley, 2009); The relationship between geo-tourism and local residents' participation (Farsani et al., 2009); By studying the past, present and future of geological heritage and geological protection in Spain, it is proposed to establish a legal framework, compile a complete heritage catalogue and protect geological heritage (Carcavilla et al., 2009).

In terms of books and magazines, Dowling and Newsom (2006) jointly compiled the book Geo-tourism, discussing the scope and nature of geo-tourism, describing the geo-tourism resources of Malaysia, Southwest Africa, Australia and other countries and regions, summarizing the experience of geo-park construction in Europe and China, introducing the geo-tourism actions of the United States, Spain, Ireland and Britain, and studying the interpretation system, problems and challenges of geo-tourism development. Leman et al. (2008) edited the book Geological Heritage of East and Southeast Asia, mainly involving the research results of geological heritage resources, geological heritage protection and geological parks. Germany publishes the magazine Geological Heritage, which specializes in the protection of geological heritage and the development of geological tourism.

Second, the domestic research progress

China has always attached great importance to the protection of geological relics, but the development and construction are relatively slow, and the work done in the development and construction of geological tourism is relatively backward. Chinese scholars mainly focus on the construction of geological parks and the analysis of the characteristics of geological tourism resources. Some universities have set up specialized research institutions, such as China Geo University and China University of Mining and Technology, which have set up the Geo-tourism Research Center and Geo-tourism Research Institute respectively. In addition, the domestic resource guide magazine also published a magazine dedicated to introducing and studying geological tourism-resource guide geological tourism.

1978, geological society of china established the Geological Science Popularization Committee, held many meetings to discuss the popular science problems in tourism, and proposed to carry out scientific tourism, geological tourism, tourism geology and tourism geoscience research; 198 1 since the national youth earth summer camp, a series of geological tourism practice activities have been organized, with thousands of people every year, which belongs to the national geological tourism; From 65438 to 0993, China Tourism Destination Society held an annual academic conference in Jixian County, Hebei Province with the theme of "Study on the Development Strategy of Geological Tourism in China".

Yin Heding (1983) put forward and discussed the idea of geo-tourism and establishing geo-parks. The former Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources held the "First Conference on Division and Scientific Investigation of Geological Nature Reserves" in Changsha in June1985+0/kloc-0. Participants visited Wulingyuan Scenic Area. In view of the unique and beautiful geological landscape of Wulingyuan sandstone peak forest, geologists have not carried out this work for various reasons until the Ministry of Land and Resources cooperated with relevant departments in 1998 to promote the development of this cause. At present, China has initially established a three-level geopark system consisting of world geoparks, national geoparks and provincial geoparks. The management system of geoparks with China characteristics is constantly improving around the principle of "developing in protection and protecting in development", and there are still many places to be explored in theory and practice. The research and development of geo-tourism in world natural heritage sites are also quietly going on, and the development of geo-tourism in world heritage sites will become a new research direction after eco-tourism, adventure tourism and popular science tourism.

At present, the theoretical and practical research of geological tourism in China is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

1. Significance and necessity of geological tourism

Geological relics are precious and non-renewable natural heritage endowed by nature. They represent different chapters of the earth's development and have inestimable scientific significance. By carrying out geological tourism in world heritage sites and geological parks, tourists can not only protect geological relics, feel the beauty of nature and give people a pleasant travel experience, but also easily understand geological knowledge and promote the popularization of geological knowledge and the development of local economy and culture. Therefore, many domestic scholars and governments are very concerned about the study of geo-tourism and the opportunities it brings to local development. Zhou Chunming and Zeng Lingchu (2007) believed that geo-tourism has the functions of helping the poor, prolonging the life of mining areas, strengthening community harmony and popularizing geoscience knowledge, which not only protects geological relics, but also develops local economy and promotes local development. Xu Mei (2007) thinks that personalized and thematic geo-tourism will become the new trend of tourism development in China, and puts forward that vigorously developing geo-tourism is the right choice to fully tap the potential advantages of Guizhou's tourism resources and realize the backwardness of Guizhou's tourism industry with differentiated competition strategy. The development of Guizhou's geo-tourism needs to take the road of comprehensive and integrated development to promote the comprehensive and coordinated development of local economy. Zhang Ling (2008) believes that the development of geological tourism is of great significance to protect geological relics, accelerate the development of tourism and promote the harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

2. Geological tourism resources.

The research of geological tourism resources mainly focuses on the classification of geological tourism resources, the structure and formation history of geological landforms, and the development of geological tourism resources. His main works are Classification and Mapping of Tourism Geological Resources in China and Geological Tourism (Xia Shufang,1998); The main research results are as follows: Wu Zhaoqian (1990) proposed that China is rich in geological tourism resources and should develop geological tourism for the world; Guo Wei and Hua Ding (200 1) discussed the classification, characteristics and development prospect of geological tourism resources. Zuo (1995) discussed the feasibility of geological tourism development in Sichuan. Li Zhiguo and Gao Jianhua (2004) studied the geological tourism resources and their development and utilization potential in Henan Province, and put forward that the evaluation of geological tourism resources should be done well and the combined tourism projects should be developed. Tang Kaijiang (2003) analyzed the geological tourism resources of the World Heritage Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, and put forward two aspects of geological tourism, namely, unwritten tourism and the excavation of paleontological fossils. He Yang (2004) studied the obstacles and countermeasures of the development and protection of the world heritage three parallel rivers tourism geological resources. Dai Yanan (2008) discussed the ways and methods of sustainable development of geological relics.

3. Geopark

Geopark is the foundation and main place to carry out geological tourism activities. Therefore, Chinese scholars have done a lot of research work on the theory and practice of geopark development and construction. Mainly reflected in the following aspects:

(1) National Geopark System Research, Geopark Evaluation and Significance. Chen Anze (2003) thinks that the establishment of the national geopark system is an epoch-making event in the history of China's geological work development, which is of great significance for protecting geological relics and promoting tourism and economic development. Zhao Xun and Zhao Ting (2003) believe that the construction of China Geopark can not only improve the international status of geological science in China, protect geological relics, optimize geological environment, promote the popularization of science and improve the knowledge content of tourism science, but also benefit the development of local economy and increase the employment opportunities of local residents. It is a concrete measure to realize the sustainable development of geological work in social economy, and it is also beneficial to protect geological relics and geological environment. National Geopark has aesthetic and ornamental value, scientific research and popular science value, and will play an important role in developing geological tourism, popularizing geological science knowledge and improving the scientific content of tourism (Hou and Xu, 2004).

(2) Study on the characteristics, development and protection of geological heritage resources in geological parks. Huang Song (2006) put forward the optimization idea and five optimization modes of the comprehensive protection and development mode of geological relics; Lai and Zheng Wanmo (2002) think that local governments should find out the geological heritage resources of geological parks and establish a perfect evaluation standard and registration evaluation system. Wang Changsheng (2005) thinks that the principle of "delaying development" should be adopted for undeveloped geological relics to protect geological relics resources.

(3) Research on the development and protection of geological parks. He Guo (2003) used the idea of system theory to divide the geopark into three subsystems: geological system, protection system and tourism system. Geoparks should take the road of green development, integrate into the tourism industry chain, and build scientific tourism and adventure tourism bases (Shuang Lee Heying Yueshucang, 2002). The construction of geological parks should pay attention to the relationship between development, utilization and protection, both of which aim at realizing the sustainable development of geological heritage resources (Mao, 2003; Sun Changyuan and Zhou Shumin, 2005). Li and Liu Kaibang (2005) think that ecotourism is a strategic choice for the sustainable development of geoparks, and put forward the development model of ecotourism in geoparks.

(4) Study and draw lessons from foreign experience in the construction, development and protection of geoparks. This paper mainly summarizes the experience of foreign geoparks, and puts forward to improve the management system of geoparks in China as soon as possible, straighten out various management rules and regulations and operating mechanisms, separate the management and operation of geoparks, and strengthen legal responsibility and legal sanctions (Zhao Ting and Zhao Xun, 2003; Zheng Min and Zhang Jiayi, 2003; Xia, 2006).

4. Geological tourism development and products.

Chinese scholars have relatively little research on the overall planning and construction of geological tourism and the innovation of geological tourism products. At present, most of the research focuses on the development ideas and suggestions of geological tourism. How to meet the change of people's tourism demand and the construction of geological tourism supporting facilities by developing novel geological tourism products is the goal that China scholars and operators need to focus on in the future. Zhou Chunming and Zeng Lingchu (2007) discussed in detail the significance of geological tourism and the development and construction countermeasures of geological tourism product series; Gao Lianfeng and Zhang Zhenguo (2007) studied the distribution characteristics of geological landscape resources in Shanxi Province, and put forward the construction ideas of geological tourism master plan, namely, the planning of geological tourism routes, resource development and environmental management and protection of geological tourism areas in this province; Zhuang Shouqiang (2006) put forward the development of geotourism and the protection of intellectual property rights in geoparks, and put forward three types of geotourism: diffused geotourism, inserted geotourism and coherent geotourism; Zhuang Shouqiang (2008) put forward the idea of searching for diamonds in dinosaur infested places, which satisfied people's curiosity and the sustainable development countermeasures of geological tourist attractions. Xu Mei (2007) discussed the idea of combining ethnic tourism with geological tourism in Guizhou. Wu Zhenyang (2007), based on the analysis of the characteristics of granite landforms, geological tourism and existing problems in Hong Kong, put forward the idea of developing geological tourism of granite landforms in Hong Kong. Xie He (2003) analyzed the characteristics of geological tourism in American national parks, and put forward that the development of geological tourism in China should highlight the characteristics of geological tourism, correctly understand the geological landscape and strengthen management and guidance. At the same time, many scholars have carried out research on the design and development of tourism products for some specific geological parks.

Generally speaking, the research on geological tourism in China is still relatively weak, mainly focusing on the analysis of the characteristics of geological landscape resources, the development and protection of geological resources, the development and planning of geological parks and so on. There are still some shortcomings in the evaluation system of geological tourism resources, the arrangement of geological tourism routes, the supporting services of geological tourism, the combination of geological tourism and education, the combination of geological tourism and local characteristics, and the coordination of geological tourism and regional economic construction. The theoretical research system and practical development system of geological tourism have not yet been formed, and there are still some shortcomings.