Abstract

People from cities are diversifying their touristic destinations, not only in summertime but also at weekends. As a consequence a mass-market tourism is emerging directed towards nearby natural environments. In this context, in the last decade in Spain a new outdoor tourism model is based on enjoying nature by means of hiking trails on sites with a high geological value. Therefore, knowing the hosting environment and its host capacity is crucial to balance this situation, and to avoid irreversible damages in sensible areas. Geotourism involves the education of the tourist, who not only learns the geology of the environment and its relevance, but also is informed and aware of the conservation of the environment. On the other hand, a coordinated action with stakeholders is crucial to generate a framework able to manage a touristic demand, and to provide the necessary facilities. This is the correct way to generate endogenous economic incomes and a sustainable use of territory.

Keywords: Geotursim; Geoethics; Hiking trails; Host capacity; Tourism unsustainability