Dinópolis, Halfway between Amusement Park and Science Museum: How to Develop Geotourism in A Region Undergoing Depopulation

Abstract

Dinópolis, in the province of Teruel (Spain), offers a network of facilities which attract many palaeontology and dinosaur enthusiasts. It promotes a symbiosis between a palaeontological museum, a territorial network of interpretation centres and a set of attractions whose main protagonists are dinosaurs. All that is complemented by the implementation of public programs that shape the intangible heritage of the project. Dinópolis brings together two institutions: a Foundation, granted as a monographic museum of Palaeontology and a Managing Society, in charge of managing the spaces open to the public. The aim of the Foundation is to preserve and popularize the palaeontological resources after their research. The Managing Society promotes Dinópolis and all the complementary tourist services as well as the leisure facilities. In order to fulfil its objectives, Dinópolis has a large palaeontological park in the city of Teruel and seven smaller museums that foster visits around the province. These “satellites” show a selection of local fossils as well as the palaeontological techniques followed by its researchers. The headquarters house fossil collections, palaeontology laboratories, research areas and two modern buildings with up-to-date fossil exhibitions. It also offers dark-rides, theatre shows and open-air activities. The purpose of these facilities and public programs is to boost geotourism in rural areas. This would contribute to mitigate depopulation, a dramatic process that has been continuously affecting the province for more than a century. With Dinópolis, the palaeontological resources are applied to a regional development project based on scientific leisure. The need to improve the quality of life for the inhabitants of Teruel and revitalize their economy, was precisely the trigger that motivated the creation of this model of development. Its greatest merit is to be a model of growth which puts together research and leisure facilities, and has generated more than 2.7 million visits since its opening in 2001.