The document discusses the economic significance of geotourism and geoparks in China. It notes that China has over 200 national geoparks and over 70 national mining parks that attract billions of visitors annually and generate significant revenue. These geoparks have proven effective in alleviating poverty in remote areas by creating jobs and businesses from tourism. However, challenges remain in managing large visitor numbers and potential overdevelopment. Overall, geotourism has been an important national strategy in China to improve livelihoods through sustainable use of natural resources.

1. Economic significance of
geotourism and geoparks in
China
The Business of Geotourism and Geoparks
- an International Workshop
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, Perth
14 May, 2018
Dr Young Ng MH
Geotourism Standing Committee, Geological Society of Australia
FACET 2018

2. @ All rights reserved/Young Ng 2018
Outline
1. Background
2. Characteristics of Chinese
geoparks
3. Economic implications of
Chinese geotourism and
geoparks
4. Challenges
5. Conclusions
Courtesy: MLR

3. @ All rights reserved/Young Ng 2018
1. Background
Geotourism
‘Tourism which focuses on an area's
geology and landscape as the basis for
providing visitor engagement, learning
and enjoyment’ (GSA 2015).
Geoparks
‘Single, unified geographical areas where
sites and landscapes of international
geological significance are managed with
a holistic concept of protection, education
and sustainable development’ (GGN 2017).
Geoparks are NOT World Heritage Sites

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Geotourism
Geoparks
Site/ Venue
Site management
Facilities
Interpretation
Tourist/Tour
Revenue
Business
Jobs

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Growth of national geoparks
in china
2000
2018
• Average 11 new
national geoparks per
year since the year
2000
207
11

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Geotourism potentials of china
National Geopark: 207,
37 with global status (CGN 2018)
National Mining Parks: 72
Geoparks and National
Mining Parks museums: 279
Geoscience related
museums (coal, energy, fossil
etc): 75
Geotrails – >700 in geoparks
& mining parks
Source: CGN 2018
National Geoparks
of China 2018

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Why there are so many geological
attractions and geoparks in
China?
• Very rich geodiversity -
geologically and
geomorphologically
diversified
• Cultural reasons (history, philosophy,
tradition, religion)
• Economic reasons

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2. Characteristics of Chinese Geoparks
• Very strong federal and provincial government supports
• Branding is important
• Visitation – numbers, seasonal
• Revenue – most geoparks are self-sustainable and profitable, ticket
sale is an important stable source of income
• Management & operation – geopark management composed of city
and town government officials, >90% staff are local residents
• Geological and landscape attraction, with strong cultural and
historical elements
• Objective: Sustainable economic development for local people >
Conservation

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3. Economic implications of Chinese
geotourism and geoparks
• Uneven wealth distribution, poverty, prevent social unrests
Sustainable economic
development
(especially through geotourism)
Conservation Education
Chinese
geotourism
&
geoparks

10. @ All rights reserved/Young Ng 2018
Extreme poverty (Living on <USD
1.9 per day)
• 1978: 250 million people
• 2017: 43 million people
(Concentrated Contiguous
Destitute Areas CCDA: 680
counties)
• 1978 – 2017 (39 years): reduce
by >80%
USD

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Geotourism & geoparks: Poverty alleviation
• Geotourism and geoparks in China = poverty alleviation strategy
• A national policy to eradicate poverty, especially in remote and poor
provinces
• To prevent social unrest by improving livelihood of local people
through sustainable tourism development
Poverty alleviation

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Economic significance
• Increase the number of
tourists
• Encourage new
businesses
• Create new Jobs
• Generate revenue

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Tourist number
• Since 2000, 1.42 billion
visitors (MLR 2017)
• Continue to grow at 5 – 7%
per year

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Revenue generation
• Total tourism revenue CNY 596
billion (USD 90 billion) since 2000
(MLR 2017)
• Each geopark in China generates an
average of USD 440 million over a period
of 17 years, or an average of USD 26
million per year.

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4. Challenges
• Too many tourists
• Tourist
misbehaviours
• Over-development
• Insufficient facilities
• Management

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5. Conclusions
•Geotourism and geopark approach adopted in China is proven to be economically
effective in improving the livelihood of people in poor and remote areas
•Perfectly match with the national poverty alleviation strategies and policies + the
recent ‘Belt & Road Initiative’
•Foreseeable improvement in the remote, poor areas particularly in Central, NW and
SW regions of China
•Increasing the values of existing geo-resources (geology, natural & cultural
landscapes)
•Opening up tremendous business, academic research and job opportunities for not
only for but also for others
•Will the Chinese geotourism and geopark experiences have any implications to the
improvement of tourism to the national parks, protected areas, mining towns and
outbacks of Australia?

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Clean water and green mountains are
gold and silver mines
Xi Jinping 2005, Zhejiang

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Thank you!
Dr Young Ng MH
Geological Society of Australia
Email: 2901792603@qq.com