A framework for evaluating geotrails for education and geotourism.

Abstract

Geotourism, a rapidly growing sector in the tourism industry, focuses on nature-based exploration of landscapes and landforms, emphasizing the sustainable utilization of geosites and geomorphosites. These geological and geomorphological features hold scientific, cultural, aesthetic, and economic significance, collectively termed geomorphosites. Geotrails play a pivotal role in geotourism and geoeducation, serving as pathways that connect local geology, geoheritage, and educational experiences. Even with this, many geotrails fall short of incorporating current didactic and touristic insights, leading to a lack of engagement with geological phenomena, inadequate information dissemination, and limited tourist appeal. This study presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating existing geotrails, using the UNESCO Global Geotrail Barberton Makhonjwa Mountain in South Africa as a case study. The framework is developed through an extensive literature review and validated using select model trials. The findings yield significant improvements, identifying areas requiring enhancement, such as enhanced consideration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), improved integration of geo-interpretation criteria, and harnessing the potential of underutilized new technologies. Our investigation closely aligns with international research outcomes. Often, minor adjustments distinguish an acceptable geotrail from an exemplary one. The checklist of criteria proposed herein forms a robust foundation for achieving this distinction.