International Journal of Tourism, Travel and Hospitality Law in groups and visiting natural areas or areas where there is a geological attraction are considered Geotourists. Geotourism was also studied to identify the characteristics of tourists visiting mining sites as cultural resources, but also the industrial heritage as a tourist resource (Ballesteros & Ramirez, 2007; Chon & Evans, 1989; Edwards & Liurdes, 1996; Wanhill, 2000). The concept of geotourism includes visiting caves, as leisure, discovering wonders of nature and learning, all being referred to as speleotourism (from the Greek word σπήλαιον=cave) or cave tourism. Every natural underground cavity, large or small, horizontal or vertical, opened by various causes (mainly by the effect of water) that communicate with the surface is characterized as a cave (Πετροχείλου, 2006). Since natural caves have, by nature, inherent beauty and intense mystery, particularly as regards the way they were created, they are considered potential tourist resources. Thus, the governing bodies in areas where there are natural caves with geomorphological features, show great interest in exploiting and preserving them, targeting at attracting more visitors in the future. The tourist resources of speleotourism are based on scientific, aesthetic and cultural values as well as recreational values (Tongkul, 2005). The scientific value refers to the existence of significant geological "files", the history of the cave’s formation, mineralogy etc. The aesthetic values refer to the mystery and miracle of the creation of geomorphological formations of caves and the environmental landscape. The recreational values refer to the delight of exploring the interior of the cave, sailing in the underground water of caves, hiking and camping in the area around the caves, which are usually located in valleys in mountainous terrain, near waterfalls, beaches, or limestone areas. Finally, the cultural values are linked with rituals and superstitions, beliefs and desires of residents, their traditional importance, as well as historical and archaeological evidence. 2. The speleological wealth of Greece Man and caves are linked since prehistoric times, since caves were used as a dwelling, a refuge, a place of worship, storage area, even as graves. In Greek mythology there are many references to spilaia meaning caves that hosted gods and demigods, such as the Ideon Andron (where according to Greek mythology, Zeus was raised (Μοίρα, 2018) and the Dikteon Andron, where according to ancient tradition Rhea resorted to give birth to Zeus (Μοίρα, 2005), caves in Crete, the cave of Hermes (where, according to ancient tradition Rhea resorted to give birth to Zeus ) in Ziria / Achaia etc. Traces of habitation have been found in many caves, such as the cave "Red Rocks" in Petralona - Halkidiki, the cave "Alepotrypa" in Dyros - Laconia, the cave "Theopetra" in Trikala, etc. Moreover, caves have constituted a haven for many species of animals, traces of which were discovered nowadays (e.g. a type of panthers in the cave "Glyfada" of Dyros, cave bears in the Pozar cave in Aridaia and Perama
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