Toward smartphone applications for geoparksinformation and interpretation systems in China

Abstract

Geopark information and interpretation systemsare both necessary infrastructure in geopark planning andconstruction program, and they are also essential for geoeducationand geoconservation in geopark tourism. Thecurrent state and development of information and interpretationsystems in China’s geoparks were presented andanalyzed in this paper. Statistics showed that fewer thanhalf of geoparks run websites, and less than that amountmaintained database, and less than one percent of allInternet/smartphone applications were used for geoparktourism. The results of our analysis indicated that smartphoneapplications in geopark information and interpretationsystems would provide benefits such as acceleratedgeopark science popularization and education and facilitatedinteractive communication between geoparks andtourists.

Keywords

• geopark
• geotourism
• information
• interpretation
• smartphone application
• china