ISSN 2184-8793 ISSNe 2975-9056 emerging mainly concerning its origin. Hvenegaard (1994) and Orams (1995) argue that the term was first used in late 1980s. Romeril (1985, p. 216) argued that the possibility of a symbiotic relationship between tourism and environmental protection was noted for the first time in 1976 by Budowski. Budowski, however, though he did refer to many of the characteristics of “ecotourism”, did not in fact use this term. Thompson (1995) considers that the first person to use the term ecotourism is Ceballos-Lasurain in early 1980s (Fennell, 2001, p. 58). Fennell (2001) argues that the term “ecotourism” is attributed to Hetzer (1965), who identified four pillars or principles of responsible tourism, i.e. minimizing environmental impacts, respecting local culture, maximizing benefits for the local population and maximizing satisfaction for tourists. The first pillar is the most important feature of ecological tourism or ecotourism (Fennell, 2001). In general, ecotourism refers to a trip to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas, aiming at studying, admiring and enjoying the landscape and wildlife, as well as any cultural event that can take place in these areas. Ecotourism refers to the conservation of natural resources, the use of the environment without causing pollution and the awareness through environmental education (Yeoman, 2001). The concept of ecotourism is understood as the wise use of natural and cultural resources in a tourist destination for current and future generations (Weaver & Lawton, 2007). Geotourism is considered as one of the many types of ecotourism or nature tourism (Dowling & Newsome, 2005). It is defined as a tourist activity associated with geology and geomorphology, a landscape’s natural resources, landforms, fossils, rocks and minerals, with emphasis on assessing the processes that have created and continue to create such special geological forms (Buckley, 2003). Geotourism is often referred to as a form of nature tourism that focuses more on geosystem (Gray, 2011; Newsome & Dowling, 2010). Thus, it refers to the promotion and development of tourism in areas of geological interest. A first attempt at determining geotourism as “geological tourism” was made by Hose (1995), who identified it as a form of tourism that focuses on geology and landscape. It promotes tourism in geotopes (volcanoes, caves, canyons, fossil sites, major geological faults, ancient, historical and some inactive mines and quarries, geoforms and landscapes created by nature during geological ages) and strives to keep geodiversity and understand earth science through learning and assessment. This is achieved through visits to areas with geological characteristics, the use of the geotopes’ geo - routes and points of pleasure, with tours, geo activities and management of geotopes’ visitors’ centers (Dowling & Newsome, 2006). Dowling (2013) points that the term “geological” views geotourism as a type or form of tourism, while the term “geographical” views it more as an approach to tourism, like sustainable tourism. According to National Geographic (2005), geotourism is the tourism that preserves or enhances the geographical character of a place and its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents. Geotourism nowadays helps travelers enhance their knowledge of natural resources and the cultural identity of host societies (Farsani, Coelho & Costa, 2011). Individuals traveling individually or
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