GEOTOUR & IRSE 2012.pdf - Fakulta BERG - TUKE

Salgótarján, 04. – 06. October 2012
COMPETITIVENESS OF TOURISM IN SLOVAKIAN GEOPARKS
Eva Tomková & Lenka Muchová
Institute of Geotourism, BERG Faculty, Technical University of Košice
e-mail: eva.tomkova@tuke.sk, lenka.muchova@tuke.sk
ABSTRACT
The advantage of Slovakia, despite the relatively small area, for building Geoparks is very great variability
of geological structure with lots of natural formations (GEOTOP) which in many cases are linked to the
value of mining objects and objects of archaeological, economic, and cultural heritage of European
significance.
In Slovakia, they are currently built three geoparks in different categories. One of geoparks is geopark is
operational categories geoparks and the remaining 2 geoparks are in categories building geoparks. And it is
these three geoparks of Slovakia will further assessed for competitiveness in tourism. The competitiveness
will be evaluated of the various parameters, for example infrastructure, human, cultural and natural
resources.
GEOPARKS OF SLOVAKIA
Establishment of Geoparks initiative in Slovakia dates back to the years 1998 - 2000 when the idea
first began to emerge establishment and management of these areas in Banská Ńtiavnica later
Banska Bystrica and Fiľakovo. They are currently established in Slovakia three geoparks:
Banskobystrický geopark, Banskońtiavnický geopark a Novohradský geopark (Novohrad – Nógrád
geopark).
Banskobystrický geopark
The main precondition for the development of the project of building Geopark is the existence and
amount of use of geological, mining and their downstream ecological phenomena and historical
heritage of Banska Bystrica and its surroundings. They are two key areas geo-montaneous areas:
Starohorsko-ńpaņodolinská a Ľubietovsko-ponická geo-montaneous area. The project was initiated
and prepared for active participation of regional and local authorities, professional institutions in the
city of Banská Bystrica and private sector representatives. Geopark is managed through publicprivate
partnerships.
Banskoštiavnický geopark
Geological history and subsequent modification of the landscape due to mining area makes the
region Banská Ńtiavnica unique not only in Slovakia but also in the world. Given the universality of
the values of this area, the town of Banská Ńtiavnica and technical monuments in its surroundings
of the "Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage" written in 1993,
the World Heritage List as a cultural heritage.
GEOPARK NOVOHRAD – NÓGRÁD
Geopark Novohrad - Nógrád area includes 28 municipalities on the Slovak side (southern districts
of Rimavská Sobota, Lučenec a Veľký Krtíń) and 63 villages on the Hungarian side (the northern
part of the county Nógrád). On its territory are protected region Cerová Highlands protected area
and TK Karancs Medves.
ANALYSIS OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF GEOPARKS
Lack of necessary information prevents us measure, monitor competitiveness specifically defined
territory Geoparks. Given this fact, this issue will be addressed at the district level, where the
geopark is situated in Slovakia.
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