Evaluation of Geosites from the Perspective of Geopark Management: the Example of Proposed Zemplín Geopark

Abstract

Recently, geotourism has enriched the range of tourism products with its relatively new attraction—geoparks. In addition to high-quality management, geoparks must also offer excellent geological attractions (geosites). Several scientific works dealt with the geoheritage management and geosite evaluation procedure. The paper evaluates geosites from the geopark management point of view while considering the needs of such geoparks. Using newly created methodology, we have selected the limiting criteria that indicate the usability of geosites in the geopark. The management and the methodology above were tested at the proposed Zemplín geopark. The results indicate the importance of such an evaluation throughout all the phases of the geopark creation process.