Joint Presentation by Dr Young Ng and Angus M Robinson about the opportunities offered by the recent execution of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Geological Society of Australia and the Geological Society of China.

1. Australian-Chinese Partnership Creating
New Geotourism Opportunities
Young Ng and Angus M Robinson
SEGRA 2016
27 October, 2016
All rights reserved: Young Ng and Angus M Robinson 2016

2. Outline
• Background
• Importance of China to Australia
• Australia-China Relationship
• The UNESCO Global Geopark Approach
• Take Aways

3. Background
• China has a
population of 1.35
billion
• Australia’s
population is 1.7%
(225 m) of China
• It is the largest
export market of
Australian products
(AUD30 billion in
Jan 2014, increased
by nearly 7 times
since 1971)
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
1971 2014 (Jan)
Australia's export to China
(AUD in million)
AUD in million
29,756
435
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2014

4. Australia’s Exports to China
(% in total)
33%
28%
9%
5%
25%
Manufactured goods &
equip. (food, metal
products, machinery &
equip.)
Iron ore, coal and gold
Oil & gas
Agricultural products
(wheat & wool)
Others
Manufactured goods &
equip. (food, metal
products, machinery &
equip.)
Oil & gas
Agricultural
products
Others
Iron ore, coal and gold
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2014

5. Australia’s Export Markets
(% share)
27%
17%
7%6%
43%
China
Japan
South Korea
India
EU+ others
Japan
EU
& Others
Largest Single
Market: China
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2014

6. Australia-China relationship
• China is a huge export market for Australian products and services: mineral
and energy resources, agricultural produces, tourism and education.
• Australia has the advantage of geographical proximity over other
competitors because of lower shipping cost, reliability and quality of
supplies, and a shorter shipping time.
• Maintaining a good Australia-China relationship is important to the long term
benefits of Australia, the economic and political stability in the Asia-Pacific
region.

7. Chinese Tourists
• China is Australia’s fastest growing inbound tourism
market and the largest contributor to international
visitor spending in Australia (A$5 billion in 2013),
predicted to rise to A$13 billion by 2020.
• Overall satisfaction of Chinese tourists in Australia is
generally high.
• 77% cited nature-based attractions as the single best
attraction of Australia.
• Building friendly relationships provides long term
benefits to Australia, creating a peaceful and
harmonious political environment in the Asia Pacific.
• Global Geoparks can be used as a means to maintain
and improve these relationships through geotourism.
Sources: Hurun Report, January 2013; Tourism Australia, January 2014

8. The Geopark Approach
UNESCO Global Geoparks are
single, unified geographical
areas where sites and
landscapes of international
geological significance are
managed with a holistic
concept of protection,
education and sustainable
development.

9. UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARKS
Where are the geoparks?
There are 120 UNESCO Global Geoparks spread across 33 countries and 5 continents. This includes 69 in
Europe as part of the European Geoparks Network (founded in 2000) and 46 in the Asia-Pacific region as part
of the Asia-Pacific Geoparks Network (founded in 2009).
Geoparques
Mundiais da
UNESCO
Organização
das Nações Unidas
para a Educação,
Ciência e Cultura

10. Map - Distribution of Chinese
geoparks with global status
Global Geoparks of China 2016
33 Global Geoparks
in China

11. Managing Geological Heritage in China
• 33 Global Geoparks.
• 45 World Heritage Sites, of which 10 are natural heritage
sites, and nine of these are accredited because of their
outstanding geology and landscapes.
• Over 320 Provincial Geoparks, of which over 200 have
already gained national status.
• 72 National Mining Parks preserving the relics and
geological features of mines.

12. Establishing Ties Amongst Parks
• Can be in form of ‘sister
parks’, field study and
training centres, joint
research projects,
management staff or
guide exchange
programs.
• ‘Sister Park’ relationship
can be a holistic approach
to implement these joint
projects.
Visited geoparks in Greece
Indonesian delegation visited Chinese geopark

13. Asia Pacific Geotourism Conference 2013
Asia Pacific Geoparks Network Symposium 2013
Tianzhushan Global Geopark, Visit 2012

14. Tianzhushan Global Geopark, Anhui Province

15. Immersed in the landscape & geology – Tianzhushan Global
Geopark

16. Immersed in the landscape & geology
Tianzhushan Global Geopark

19. ‘Sisters’ of Chinese Geoparks
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Sister parks in China
Sister parks out of China
No. of parks
(Sources: data provided by each geopark in July 2014)
10 famous Chinese
global geoparks are selected
for study

20. • Currently, there are 33 global parks in
China.
• Recent study – 10 global geoparks in
China.
Results: All geoparks have set a
target of 5 overseas sister parks
• 100% of the geoparks were looking for 2 or
more overseas ‘sister parks’.
• 70% of the geoparks were looking for 3 or
more ‘sister parks’.
• 50% of the geoparks were looking for 4 or
more ‘sister parks’.
• 20% of the geoparks were looking for 5 or
more ‘sister parks’.
No. of
overseas
‘sister
parks’
No. of
Chinese
geoparks
In %
0 2 20%
1 3 30%
2 2 20%
3 3 30%
Total number of geoparks
under study: 10

21. Benefits and Challenges
• Long term friendship
and frequent exchanges
of management,
conservation and
marketing experiences.
• Free, regular promotion
in China.
• Challenges include
cultural and language
differences during
communication and
contacts, and a long-term
commitment by both
sides.
Yandangshan Global
Geopark, Zhejiang
Leiqiong Global
Geopark, Hainan &
Guangdong

22. How to Get Connected?
• Facilitation provided by the Geological Society of Australia
through the auspices of the recently executed Memorandum
of Cooperation.
• Attending geopark conferences e.g. Global Geoparks
Network, Asia Pacific Geoparks Network, and global geopark
and geotourism conferences held in China.
Hexigten Global Geopark, Inner Mongolia

23. Australia-China Memorandum of Cooperation
The GSA and the Geological Society of China
Executed June 2016
• The Australia-China relationship is becoming more
important with the increasing level of economic,
social and cultural activities in the coming decades.
• The Memorandum of Cooperation will be focused on
growing and enhancing best practice nature-based
tourism (i.e. geotourism) in both countries.
• Park Managers could play a significant role in
establishing ‘sister’ relationships between parks, as a
key driver of future geotourism.

24. Take Aways
• The Australia-China relationship is becoming
more and more important with the increasing
levels of economic, social and cultural activities.
• Better cultural relationships are important to the
long term national benefits of both Australia and
China as well as to the Asia Pacific region.
• Regional Development agencies can strengthen
such relationship through the geopark approach
of establishing ‘sister’ relationship between
tourism-focused regional areas in both countries.
• Regional Australia needs to identify innovative
mechanisms for creating tourism destinations.

25. Thank You!
Contacts:
Geotourism Standing Committee
Geological Society of Australia
Angus M Robinson
angus@leisuresolution.com.au
0418 488 340
or
Dr Young Ng
young@rocks.org.hk
All rights reserved: Young Ng and Angus M Robinson 2016