Karst geoheritage and geotourism potential in the Pek River lower basin (Eastern Serbia)

  • Aleksandar Antić University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21 000 Novi Sad, Serbia
  • Nemanja Tomić University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21 000 Novi Sad, Serbia
  • Slobodan Marković University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21 000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Keywords: Pek, Karst, geotourism, geosites, geoheritage,

Abstract


Karst areas, as areas with attractive geological and geomorphological features are an important and integral part of geoheritage. They possess huge tourism potential and can be used for the development of geotourism. The Pek River basin is a highly dominant karst terrain with numerous geological and geomorphological features, especially caves. However, their geotourism potential still remains fully unrevealed. In this paper, we analyzed several geosites that represent significant karst geoheritage formations and as such they can be the backbone of future geotourism development in this area. The aim of this paper is to emphasize the geotourism potential of the Pek River lower basin and to determine the current state and geotourism potential of these geosites by applying the modified geosite assessment model (M-GAM).

References

Antić, A., & Tomić, N. (2017). Geoheritage and geotourism potential of the Homolje area (eastern Serbia). Acta Geoturistica, 8(2), 67-78.

Boškov, J., Kotrla, S., Jovanović, M., Tomić, N., Lukić, T., & Rvović, I. (2015). Application of the preliminary geosite assessment model (GAM): the case of the Bela Crkva municipality (Vojvodina, North Serbia). Geographica Pannonica, 19(3), 146-152.

Božić, S., Tomić, N., & Pavić, D. (2014). Canyons as potential geotourism attractions of Serbia – comparative analysis of Lazar and Uvac canyons by using M-GAM model. Acta Geoturistica, 5(2), 18-30.

Božić, S., & Tomić, N. (2015). Canyons and gorges as potential geotourism destinations in Serbia: Comparative analysis from two perspectives - General tourists' and pure geotourists'. Open Geosciences, 7, 531-546.

Brilha, J. (2016). Inventory and quantitative assessment of geosites and geodiversity sites: a review. Geoheritage, 8(2), 119–134.

Bruschi, V. M., & Cendrero, A. (2005). Geosite evaluation. Can we measure intangible values? Il Quaternario,18(1), 293-306.

Coratza, P., & Giusti, C. (2005). Methodological proposal for the assessment of the scientific quality of geomorphosites. Il Quaternario, 18(1), 307-313.

Dowling, R., & Newsome, D. (2010). Geotourism: A global activity. In R. Dowling, & D. Newsome (Eds.), Global geotourism perspectives (pp. 1–17). Woodeaton: Goodfellow Publishers.

Erhartič, B. (2010). Geomorphosite assessment. Acta Geographica Slovenica, 50(2), 295-319.

Farsani, N. T., Coelho, C. O. A., & Costa, C. M. M. (2014). Analysis of network activities in geoparks as geotourism destinations. International Journal of Tourism Research,16, 1–10.

Fassoulas, C., Mouriki, D., Dimitriou-Nikolakis, P., & Iliopoulos, G. (2012). Quantitative as-sessment of geotopes as an effective tool for geoheritage management. Geoheritage, 4, 177–193.

Gray, M. (2004). Geodiversity: Valuing and Conserving Abiotic Nature. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

Hose, T. A. (1997). Geotourism - selling the earth to Europe. In P. G., Marinos, G. Koukis, C. Tsiambaos, & G. C. Stournaras (Eds.), Engineering geology and the environment (pp. 2955-2960). Rotterdam: A.A Balkema.

Hose, T. A. (2000). European‘geotourism’ — Geological interpretation and conservation promotion for tourists. In D. Barettino, W. A. P. Wimbledon, & E. Gallego (Eds.), Geo-logical heritage: Its conservation and management (pp. 127–146). Madrid: ITGE.

Hose, T. A., & Vasiljević, Dj. A. (2012). Defining the nature and purpose of modern geotourism with particular reference to the United Kingdom and south-east Europe. Geoheritage, 4, 25–43

Krešić, N. (1988). Karst i pećine Jugoslavije [Karst and caves of Yugoslavia]. Belgrade: Naučna knjiga (in Serbian).

Kubalíková, L., & Kirchner, K. (2016). Geosite and geomorphosite assessment as a tool for geoconservation and geotourism purposes: a case study from Vizovická vrchovina Highland (eastern part of the Czech Republic). Geoheritage, 8(1), 5–14.

Lazarević, R. (1988). Pećina Ceremošnja [Ceremošnja Cave]. Kučevo: Partizan (in Serbian).

Lazarević, R. (1991). Kraški izvor Kučevo [Kučevo Karst Spring]. Kučevo: Partizan (in Serbian).

Lazarević, R. (1993). Pećina Ravništarka [Ravništarka Cave]. Kučevo: Partizan (in Serbian).

Lazarević, R. (2001). Dubočka Pećina [Dubočka Cave]. Belgrade: Serbian Geographical Society (in Serbian).

Pereira, P., Pereira, D., & Caetano Alves, M. I. (2007). Geomorphosite assessment in Montesinho Natural Park (Portugal). Geographica Helvetica, 62, 150-168.

Pralong, J.-P. (2005). A method for assessing the tourist potential and use of geomorphological sites. Géomorphologie. Relief, processes, environnement, 3, 189-196.

Pralong, J.P. (2006). Geotourism: A new Form of Tourism utilising natural Landscapes and based on Imagination and Emotion. Tourism Review, 61(3), 20-25.

Rajković, I. (2014). Turistički potencijal opštine Kučevo [Tourist potential of Kučevo Municipality]. Novi Sad: Faculty of Science (in Serbian).

Reynard, E. (2008). Scientific research and tourist promotion of geomorphological heritage. Geografia fisica e dinamica quaternaria, 31(2), 225-230.

Reynard, E., Fontana, G., Kozlik, L., & Scapozza, C. (2007). A method for assessing „scientific“ „additional values“ of geomorphosites. Geographica Helvetica, 62(3), 148-158.

Różycka, M., & Migoń, P. (2014). Visitors’ background as a factor in geosite evaluation. The case of Cenozoic volcanic sites in the Pogórze Kaczawskie region, SW Poland. Geotourism/Geoturystyka, 34(38), 3-18.

Różycka, M., Migoń, P. (2018). Customer-Oriented Evaluation of Geoheritage—on the Example of Volcanic Geosites in the West Sudetes, SW Poland. Geoheritage, 10(1), 23-37.

Ruban, D. A. (2015). Geotourism – A geographical review of the literature. Tourism Management Perspectives, 15, 1-15.

Rybár, P. (2010). Assessment of attractiveness (value) of geotouristic objects. Acta Geoturistica, 1(2), 13–21.

Serrano, E., & González-Trueba, J. J. (2005). Assessment of geomorphosites in natural protected areas: the Picos de Europa National Park (Spain). Géomorphologie. Formes, processus, environnement, 3, 197-208.

Suzuki, D. A., Takagi, H. (2018). Evaluation of Geosite for Sustainable Planning and Management in Geotourism. Geoheritage, 10(1), 123-135.

Štrba, Ľ. (2015). Identification and evaluation of geosites along existing tourist trail as a primary step of geotourism development: case study from the Spiš region (Slovakia). GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 16, 126–140.

Štrba, Ľ. (2018). Analysis of Criteria Affecting Geosite Visits by General Public: a Case of Slovak (Geo)Tourists. Geoheritage, 1-10, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-018-0283-2

Štrba, Ľ., Rybár, P., Baláž, B., Molokáč, M., Hvizdák, L., Kršák, B., Lukáč, M., Muchová, L., Tometzová, D., & Ferenčíková, J. (2015). Geosite assessments: comparison of methods and results. Current Issues in Tourism, 18(5), 496–510.

Tičar, J., Tomić, N., Breg Valjavec, M., Zorn, M., Marković, S.B., & Gavrilov, M.B. (2018). Speleotourism in Slovenia: balancing between mass tourism and geoheritage protection. Open Geosciences, 10, 344-357.

Tomić, N. (2011). The potential of Lazar Canyon (Serbia) as a geotourism destination: inventory and evaluation. Geographica Pannonica, 15(3), 103-112.

Tomić, N., Marković, S.B., Korać, M., Mrđić, N., Hose, T.A., Vasiljević, Dj.A., Jovičić, M., & Gavrilov, M.B. (2015). Exposing mammoths: from loess research discovery to public palaeontological park. Quaternary International, 372, 142-150.

Tomić, N., & Božić, S. (2014). A modified geosite assessment model (M-GAM) and its application on the Lazar Canyon area (Serbia). International Journal of Environmental Research, 8(4), 1041-1052.

Tomić, N., Antić, A., Marković, S.B., Đorđević, T., Zorn, M., & Breg Valjavec, M. (2018). Exploring the potential for speleotourism development in eastern Serbia. Geoheritage, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-018-0288-x

Vujadinović, S. (1953). Privredno geografske i saobraćajne odlike sliva Peka [Economic, geographic and transport system characteristics of the Pek River basin]. Belgrade: Jovan Cvijić Geographical Institute (in Serbian).

Vujičić, M. D., Vasiljević, Dj. A., Marković, S. B., Hose, T. A., Lukić, T., Hadžić, O., & Janićević, S. (2011). Preliminary geosite assessment model (GAM) and its application on Fruška Gora Mountain, potential geotourism destination of Serbia. Acta Geographica Slovenica, 51, 361-377

Vukoičić, D., Milosavljević, S., Valjarević, A., Nikolić, M., & Srećković-Batoćanin, D. (2018). The evaluation of geosites in the territory of National park „Kopaonik“ (Serbia). Open Geosciences, 10, 618-633. https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2018-0049

Zouros, N. C. (2007). Geomorphosite assessment and management in protected areas of Greece. The case of the Lesvos island coastal geomorphosites. Geographica Helvetica, 62, 169-180.

Published
2019/03/26
Section
Original Research