Geoatractiveness of UNESCO geoparks in Poland and Finland (comparative analysis)

Abstrakt

Geotourism is relatively new form of sustainable tourism, which is nowadays developing as an idea for protecting valuable geological and geomorphological landscape elements. However, places recognized as geoparks should have been marked as areas with special geological and geomorphological significance. This study presents comparative analysis of two UNESCO geoparks (Rokua Geopark in Finland, Muskau Bend Geopark in Germany and Poland) attractiveness which have different perspectives of development, as they are localized in two dissimilar regions of Europe. Paper considers how geoattractivness differences affected on geoparks popularity and functioning. It also considers the role of geotourism in sustaibnable development and sustainable tourism.