Geotourism, new area to explore

                                    Mighty Victoria Falls

By NDUBI MVULA, Lusaka

THE United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) defines tourism as comprising the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.

There are also other versions too many to itemise but two can do for now.

And according to Parks and Recreation management, Tourism is defined as a collection of activities, services and industries that delivers a travel experience, including transportation, accommodations, eating and drinking establishments, retail shops, entertainment businesses, activity facilities and other hospitality services provided for individuals or groups travelling away from home.

With all these accepted definitions of the sector, there is yet another brand of tourism that somewhat may seem too far a distance when it exists within the vicinity but not explored for all to appreciate it.

Zambia’s Liaison Officer to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Percy Ngwira this week takes on an exploration and brings to fold what this brand of tourism is all about.

Dr Ngwira who is also First Secretary for Tourism at the Zambian Embassy in Paris, France introduces this brand as Geotourism.

In his write-up of February 26^th 2018, entitled “Geotourism and Geoparks: Is Africa missing out on this new prospect for sustainable tourism development? Dr Ngwira explains what this sector is all about and how it is harnessed.

He says despite great progress that has been made in Africa in many spheres, debatebly there seem to be always 'the followers' and not 'the leaders' in many things.

Dr Ngwira says geotourism and its product geoparks seems to be 'the new kid on the block'.

However, as usual, Africa including Zambia does not seem to be paying attention to this new wave of tourism phenomenon spreading around the world like world fire.

So far, more than 125 Geoparks have been established around the world with China in the lead having more than 30 Geoparks

“Yet, the whole of Africa we only have one M'Goun UNESCO Global Geopark, in Morocco, quite unbelievable,” he says.

However, Dr Ngwira explains geotourism and geoparks are a relatively new phenomenon and subdivisions of geology and tourism.

Though still in the infancy stage and emerging as tourism niche markets awaiting further development and commercialisation, Dr Ngwira says geotourism and geoparks have been credited as tools for sustainable tourism with credentials to contribute to sustainable tourism development, rural development, local community participation and poverty alleviation.

He notes that the African continent seems to be remaining behind in grabbing the opportunity of prospects presented by this new niche tourism market.

And arguably, if there is a continent under the sun that is blessed with geomorphological features and tourism potential, “it is African”.

“From the spectacular natural beauty of the Drakensberg mountains of South Africa to the ancients pyramids of Egypt, from the cradle of mankind of the Ethiopian rift valley to the rushing sand dunes of the Namib desert, from the world’s best white sandy beaches of the Seychelles to the Historical Gold Coast of West Africa, from the smoke thundering of water spray of the Mighty Victoria Falls to the rich Serengeti plains overflowing with wild animals still roaming the wilderness as it was at the beginning, these are some of the unspoilt wonders that Africa still offers humanity beyond comparison to any other continent,” said Dr Ngwira.

Therefore, Dr Ngwira says the geomorphological and tourism riches of the great continent are unimaginable.

He says in the 21^st century, global tourism development must be ecologically sustainable, and shifting the emphasis from other forms of sustainable tourism like ecotourism to geotourism represents a positive step towards more sustainable global tourism.

“National Geographical Centre for Sustainable Destinations documents that Geotourism is sustainable tourism energised. It sustains, but it can also enhance by means of restorative and constructive forms of tourism that fit the nature of the destination,” he says.

Dr Ngwira further explains that tourist revenue can help to restore historic districts, for instance, and support local craftspeople.

And that it can help to preserve and develop local cuisines, based on distinctively local ingredients supplied by local farmers as well as help to retain traditional cultural celebrations and performing arts that would otherwise disappear.

“It can help to beautify ugly places and enrich poor places. It does those things best when focused on the distinctiveness of a place, avoiding the destructive pitfalls of undifferentiated global mass tourism,” he says.

Dr Ngwira says geotourism development at the local and regional levels must be developed within the context of sustainable local, national and international tourism development.

He says at the local, regional and national levels, development policies, plans and programs, laws and regulations, and marketing, all influence sustainable tourism development.

Dr Ngwira advises that the three main principles of sustainable development which can also be applied to regional geotourism development planning are its concentration on ecological, social and economic issues.

“Therefore, geotourism will only be sustainable where there are benefits for the host community, and these may be social and or cultural, and environmental and will not necessarily be confined to economic benefits,” he says.

As the motto for Zambia Tourism Agency “Zambia, Let’s Explore”, it goes without saying that in this journey of marketing the country to the whole-wide-world, exploring all means sustainable at hand is the key.