Vol. 15 No. 1 (2024)
Research Article

Benchmarking of Cave Tourism Destinations in Greece

PDF
Eva Psatha
University of Thessaly, Department of Planning and Regional Development, Greece
The method applied for benchmarking of cave destinations
DOI: https://doi.org/10.48088/ejg.e.psa.15.1.026.041
Categories

Published 2024-03-12

Keywords

  • Cave Tourism,
  • Show Caves,
  • Cave Destinations,
  • Benchmarking,
  • Tourism Development,
  • Greek Caves,
  • M-GAM,
  • MyCaves Model
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Psatha, Eva. 2024. “Benchmarking of Cave Tourism Destinations in Greece”. European Journal of Geography 15 (1):26-41. https://doi.org/10.48088/ejg.e.psa.15.1.026.041.

Copyright (c) 2024 Eva Psatha

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Received 2024-01-14
Accepted 2024-03-12
Published 2024-03-12

Abstract

The current article presents the findings of a comparative evaluation of selected, already developed or developing cave tourism destinations in Greece, with the purpose of recognizing, highlighting, and disseminating good practices regarding the management and capitalization of caves. Cave tourism is a promising special form of tourism that attracts people with a variety of interests. This is because caves are both impressive sights and valuable sources of scientific knowledge, combining naturalistic, geological, archaeological, and environmental interest. Thus, show caves are valuable resources, potential tourist attractions, and axes of tourist development for their wider areas. The challenge of balancing the different needs entailed by conservation, on the one hand, and by exploitation, on the other, of an attraction of such ecological and cultural importance, dictates the need for research and exchange of knowledge, experience, and good practices. To locate and diffuse good practices, the method of benchmarking was selected. The design of the methodology according to benchmarking principles led to the selection of the destinations assessed, the definition of the evaluation criteria, and the way of gathering and comparing data. The research process highlighted specific features of the caves as determining factors for attractiveness and recognition, some of which are modifiable and can form suggestions for tourist capitalization. The interpretation of the findings results in policy recommendations for better management and successful promotion of cave destinations.

Highlights:

  • Caves can be important tourist attractions, leading local development in non-tourist areas.
  • Benchmarking sheds light to overlooked aspects of tourist attractions.
  • Tourist development of caves doesn’t depend only on unchanging factors such as location and décor.
PDF

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

References

  1. Adebanjo, D., Abbas, A. & Mann, R. (2010). An investigation of the adoption and implementation of benchmarking. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 30(11),1140-1169. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443571011087369
  2. Antić et al. 2022 Antić, A., Tomić, N., & Marković, S. B. (2022). Applying the show cave assessment model (SCAM) on cave tourism destinations in Serbia. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 10(4), 616-634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgeop.2022.10.001.
  3. Antić, A., Peppoloni, S., & Di Capua, G. (2020). Applying the values of geoethics for sustainable speleotourism development. Geoheritage, 12, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-020-00504-0
  4. Antić, A., & Tomić, N. (2019). Assessing the speleotourism potential together with archaeological and palaeontological heritage in Risovača Cave (Central Serbia). Acta Geoturistica, 10(1), 1-11. https://geotur.fberg.tuke.sk/pdf/2019/n1/01_Antic_v10_n1.pdf
  5. Arrowsmith, J., Sisson, K., & Marginson, P. (2004). What can ‘benchmarking’ offer the open method of coordination? Journal of European Public Policy, 11(2), 311-328. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350176042000194458
  6. Aydın, R., & Yüceer, H. (2020). Impacts of tourism-led constructions on geoheritage sites: the case of Gilindire Cave. Geoheritage, 12(2), 42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-020-00463-6
  7. Balestra, V. & Bellopede, R. (2022). Microplastic pollution in show cave sediments: First evidence and detection technique. Environmental Pollu-tion 292(A), 18261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118261
  8. Balthasar, A. & Rieder, S. (2000). Learning from Evaluations. Effects of the Evaluation of the Swiss Energy 2000 Programme. Evaluation 6(3), 245–60. https://doi.org/10.1177/13563890022209271
  9. Bočić, N., Lukić, A. & Opačić, V.T. (2006). Management models and development of show caves as tourist destinations in Croatia. Acta Carsologi-ca 35(2–3), 13–21. https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v35i2-3.224
  10. Camp, R.C. (2006). Benchmarking: The search for industry best practices that lead to superior performance. Productivity Press.
  11. Castro, V.F.d. & Frazzon, E.M. (2017). Benchmarking of best practices: an overview of the academic literature. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 24(3), 750-774. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-03-2016-0031
  12. Chiarini, V., Duckeck, J. & De Waele, J. (2022). A Global Perspective on Sustainable Show Cave Tourism, Geoheritage 14(82). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-022-00717-5
  13. Cigna, A. & Burri, E. (2000). Development, management and economy of show caves. International Journal of Speleology, 29, 1-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.29.1.1
  14. Crane, R. & Fletcher, L. (2016). The speleotourist experience: approaches to show cave operations in Australia and China. Helictite 42, 1–11. https://helictite.caves.org.au/pdf2/42.Crane-Fletcher2.pdf
  15. Del Giorgio Solfa, F. (2017). Public Benchmarking: contributions for subnational governments and Benchmarking Design. https://n2t.net/ark:/13683/pa9s/XC7
  16. Dollma, M. (2019). Geotourism potential of Thethi National Park (Albania). International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 7(2), 85-90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgeop.2019.05.002
  17. Dzięgiel, M. (2022). Geotouristic attractiveness of the show caves of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland area. Geotourism, 17, 3-4. https://doi.org/10.7494/geotour.2020.3-4(62-63).19
  18. EFQM (2009) European Benchmarking Code of Conduct. file:///C:/Users/evari/Downloads/EFQM_BM_Code_of_Conduct_2009-5.pdf
  19. Garofano, M. & Govoni, D. (2012). Underground geotourism: a historic and economic overview of show caves and show mines in Italy. Geoherit-age 4(1–2), 79–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-012-0055-3
  20. Gillieson, D.S., Gunn, J., Auler, A. & Bolger, T. (2022). Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection. Second Edition. IUCN World Commission on Pro-tected Areas (WCPA), Working Group on Cave and Karst Protection, International Union of Speleology (UIS)
  21. Gillieson, D.S. (2011). Management of caves. Van Beynen, P. (ed) Karst management. Springer, 141–158.
  22. Hong, P., Hong, S.W., Jungbae, R.J. & Park, K. (2012). Evolving benchmarking practices: a review for research perspectives. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 19(4-5), 444-462. https://doi.org/10.1108/14635771211257945
  23. Hyland, P. & Beckett, R. (2002). Learning to compete: the value of internal benchmarking. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 9(3), 293-304. https://doi.org/10.1108/14635770210429036
  24. Jelinčić, D. A., & Tišma, S. (2022). Tourism Innovation in the Adriatic-Ionian Region: Questioning the Understanding of Innovation. European Journal of Geography, 13(5), 97-114. https://doi.org/10.48088/ejg.d.jel.13.5.097.114
  25. International Show Caves Association (ISCA), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) & International Union of Speleology (UIS) (2014). Recommended international guidelines for the development and management of show caves. https://www.i-s-c-a.org/documents
  26. Kim, S.S., Kim, M., Park, J. & Guo, Y. (2008). Cave Tourism: Tourists' Characteristics, Motivations to Visit, and the Segmentation of Their Behavior. Asia Pacific Jounal of Tourism Research, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.1080/10941660802280448
  27. Kouzmin, A., Löffler, E., Klages, H., & Korac-Kakabadse, N. (1999). Benchmarking and performance measurement in public sectors: Towards learning for agency effectiveness. The International Journal of Public Sector Management, 12(2), 121-144. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513559910263462
  28. Kyrö, P. (2003). Revising the concept and forms of benchmarking. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 10(3), 210-225. https://doi.org/10.1108/14635770310477753
  29. Lobo, H.A.S. & Moretti, E.C. (2009). Tourism in caves and the conservation of the speleological heritage: the case of Serra da Bodoquena (Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil). Acta Carsologica, 38(2–3), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v38i2-3.127
  30. Marjanović, M., Tomić, N., Radivojević, A. R., & Marković, S. B. (2021). Assessing the geotourism potential of the Niš city area (Southeast Serbia). Geoheritage, 13, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-021-00597-1
  31. Mulec, J. (2014). Human impact on underground cultural and natural heritage sites, biological parameters of monitoring and remediation actions for insensitive surfaces: case of Slovenian show caves. Journal for Nature Conservation 22(2), 132–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2013.10.001
  32. Panno, S.V., Kelly, W.R., Scott, J., Zheng, W., McNeish, R.E., Holm, N., Hoellein, T. & Baranski, E. (2019). Microplastic Contamination in Karst Groundwater Systems. Groundwater, 57(2), 189-196. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12862
  33. Ramabadran, R., Dean, J.W. Jr., Evans, J.R. & Raturi, A.S. (2004). Testing the Relationship between Team and Partner Characteristics and Cooper-ative Benchmarking Outcomes. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 51(2), 208-225. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2004.826023
  34. Robinson, P., Lück, M. & Smith, S.L.J. (2020). Tourism. CABI
  35. Rohlfer, S. (2004). Benchmarking concepts in the UK and Germany: A shared understanding among key players? Benchmarking: An International Journal, 11(5), 521-539. https://doi.org/10.1108/14635770410557735
  36. Ruggieri, R., Forti, P., Antoci, M.L. & De Waele, J. (2017). Accidental contamination during hydrocarbon exploitation and the rapid transfer of heavy-mineral fines through an overlying highly karstified aquifer (Paradiso Spring, SE Sicily). Journal of Hydrology, 546, 123–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.12.046
  37. Show Caves of Greece. (n.d) https://www.showcaves.com/english/gr/showcaves/index.html
  38. Tičar, J., Tomić, N., Breg Valjavec, M., Zorn, M., Marković, S. B. & Gavrilov, M.B. (2018). Speleotourism in Slovenia: balancing between mass tour-ism and geoheritage protection. Open Geosciences, 10(1), 344-357. https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2018-0027
  39. Tomić, N., Antić, A., Marković, S.B., Đorđević, T., Zorn, M. & Valjavec, M.B. (2019). Exploring the potential for speleotourism development in eastern Serbia. Geoheritage 11(2), 359–369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-018-0288-x
  40. Tomić, N. & Bozić, S. (2014). A modified Geosite Assessment Model (M-GAM) and its Application on the Lazar Canyon area (Serbia). International Journal of Environmental Research, 8(4),1041-1052. https://doi.org/10.22059/ijer.2014.798
  41. Vartiainen, P. (2002). On the Principles of Comparative Evaluation. Evaluation, 8(3), 359-371. https://doi.org/10.1177/135638902401462484
  42. Zairi, M. & Ahmed, P.K. (1999). Benchmarking maturity as we approach the millennium? Total Quality Management, 10(4&5), S810-S816.