Intersecting heritage and tourism trajectories: territorial dynamics of geoheritage in UNESCO-labeled landscapes

UNESCO-labeled landscapes often see the interplay between geoheritage recognition and tourism development shape territorial dynamics, with outcomes varying based on local actors, institutional frameworks, and contextual factors like volcanic eruptions or economic crises. This study reveals that heritage and resource trajectories can unfold in distinct sequences—tourism preceding heritage designation (e.g., Swiss Alps), heritage leading to tourism (e.g., Vatnajökull National Park), or independent/strongly interdependent dynamics (e.g., M'Goun or Katla UNESCO Global Geoparks). The research highlights that while UNESCO labels may not always guarantee optimal geoconservation, they influence how geoheritage is integrated—or excluded—from protected areas, posing future management challenges. By analyzing case studies across the Swiss Alps, Moroccan Atlas, and southern Iceland, the study underscores the need to systematically examine heritage awareness, value hierarchies, and institutional constraints to mitigate tourism pressures on sensitive geomorphological environments.

Bussard, J. (2026). Intersecting heritage and tourism trajectories: territorial dynamics of geoheritage in UNESCO-labeled landscapes. Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsut.2026.1893595