Assessment of the geotourism potential of the Quarta Colônia Geopark (RS, Brazil): an approach to sustainable development

Abstract

This article explores the role of geotourism in balancing education, conservation, and sustainable development, highlighting its importance within the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network. Geodiversity, the foundation of geotourism, includes geological, geomorphological, and hydrological elements that, when integrated with ecological and cultural aspects, offer unique opportunities for sustainable tourism. In the Quarta Colônia Geopark, located in Rio Grande do Sul, the geotourism evaluation method developed by Kubalíková et al. (2021) was applied, considering scientific, educational, added, touristic, and conservation values. The analysis revealed that 70% of the geosites have medium geotourism potential, with an emphasis on educational and added values. However, there was a recognized need for investment in infrastructure and legal protection. Spatial and Cluster analyses provided guidelines for strategic geotourism planning, emphasizing the balance between tourism use and conservation, as well as suggesting actions to enhance sustainability and the positive impact of the geopark.

Keywords: thematic planning; spatial analysis; geotourism assessment; geosites; UNESCO Geopark.