Quantitative assessment of geotouristic value of the geoheritage: case of Paraiba South Coast, Brazil

Abstract

A full strategy to assess the insertion of geotouristic activity in a given area is based on the systematization involving a plan of sequential actions: identification, inventory, quantitative evaluation, classification, conservation, appreciation, divulgation and finally, the monitoring of the sites or locals of interest comprising the geoheritage, i.e., those elements which represent the geodiversity of the mapped area. In this paper, we propose a new quantitative methodology for assessing the geotouristic potential and the need of protection of sites, to be applicated in the city of Joao Pessoa, Paraíba, and part of the south coast, distant 54 km from the capital. The geotouristic potential was determined based on two weighted criteria, of which their indexes were calculated: Touristic Use Value, with ten indicators, ranked from 1 to 5, with different weights; Intrinsic Value, with seven indicators, ranked from 1 to 5, with different weights. Later, from the need to protect the sites, since geoturistic activity generates impacts where develops, we calculated the Vulnerability Index of sites from ten indicators, ranked from 1 to 5, with different weights. The Imminent Risk Rate, summarizing those sites where the vulnerability is greater, was calculated from the Vulnerability Index, weighing 1, from Tourist Use Indices and Intrinsic Value which together had weight 1.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/0871-1623_34_6