Some Comments to Geosite Assessment, Visitors, and Geotourism Sustainability

Geotourism as a globally growing phenomenon is based on several principles where sustainability plays a key role. The value of an individual site of visitors’ interest (geosite, geomorphosite, or site of geological heritage—a primary point of interest in geotourism) may be expressed via specific assessment methods. However, recent geosite assessment methods are primarily focused on various aspects of geoheritage (e.g., location, scientific value, representativeness, etc.) and very low attention is paid to the majority of geotourism participants—people for whom the various geotourism products are introduced and offered. The geotourism development itself would not be possible without interest of tourists (visitors) in such places. Without the knowledge of relevant visitor data incorporated within the assessment, as discussed in this paper, such values, representing the result of the geosite assessment process, cannot be effectively utilized to help future geosite development and management activities related to overall (geo)tourism progress.