Table 1:
The Modified GAM factors
| Indicators/Sub indicators name | Description |
|---|---|
| Main values (MV) | |
| Scientific/Educational value (VSE) | |
| VSE1: Rarity | Number of highly similar/comparable sites in proximity |
| VSE2: Representativeness | Didactic and exemplary site characteristics due to its own quality and general configuration |
| VSE3: Knowledge on geo-scientific issues | Number of written papers in acknowledged journals, thesis, presentations and other publications |
| VSE4: Level of interpretation | Level of interpretive possibilities on geological and geomorphologic processes, phenomena and shapes and level of scientific knowledge |
| Scenic/Aesthetic values (VSA) | |
| VSA1: Viewpoints | Number of viewpoints accessible by a pedestrian pathway. Each must present a particular angle of view and be situated less than 1 km from the site. |
| VSA2: Surface | Whole surface of the site. Each site is considered in quantitative relation to other sites |
| VSA3: Surrounding landscape and nature | Panoramic view quality, presence of water and vegetation, absence of human induced deterioration, vicinity of urban area, etc. |
| VSA4: Environmental fitting | Level of contrast to the nature, contrast of colours, appearance of shapes, etc. |
| Protection (VPr) | |
| VPr1: Current condition | Current state of geo-site |
| VPr2: Protection level | Protection by local, regional groups, national government, international organizations, etc. |
| VPr3: Vulnerability | Vulnerability level of geo-site |
| VPr4: Suitable number of visitors | Proposed number of visitors on the site at the same time, according to surface area, vulnerability and current state of geo-site |
| Additional values (AV) | |
| Functional values (VFn) | |
| VFn1: Accessibility | Possibilities of approaching to the site |
| VFn2: Additional natural values | Number of additional natural values in the in radius of 5 km |
| VFn3: Additional anthropogenic values | Number of additional anthropogenic values in the in radius of 5 km |
| VFn4: Vicinity of emissive centres | Closeness of emissive centres (big cities) |
| VFn5: Vicinity of important road network | Closeness of important road networks in the in radius of 20 km |
| Additional functional values | Parking lots, gas stations, mechanics, etc. |
| Touristic values (VTr) | |
| VTr1: Promotion | Level and number of promotional resources |
| VTr2: Organised visits | Annual number of organised visits to the geo-site |
| VTr3: Vicinity of visitors’ centre | Closeness of visitors’ centre to the geo-site |
| VTr4: Interpretative panels | Text and graphics, material quality, size, fitting to surroundings, etc. |
| VTr5: Number of visitors | Annual number of visitors |
| VTr6: Tourism infrastructure | Pedestrian ways, resting places, garbage cans, toilets, wellsprings etc. |
| VTr7: Tour guide service | Expertise level, knowledge of foreign language(s), interpretative skills, etc. |
| VTr8: Hostelry service | Hostelry service close to geo-site |
| VTr9: Restaurant service | Restaurant service close to geo-site |
| Health values (VHt) | |
| VHt1: Rehabilitation | Rehabilitation of various injuries |
| VHt2: Place of power | Place where the power of faith is felt |
| VHt3: Peace and quietness | Motive for which visitors choose the geo-site |
| VHt4: Healing | Place where the visitors can feel the healing energy |
| VHt5: Illness recovery | Recovery from many conditions including Covid-19 |
Table 2:
Scale details
| 0 | 0.25 | 0.5 | 0.75 | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VSE1 | Common | Regional | National | International | Completely unique |
| VSE2 | None | Low | Moderate | High | Utmost |
| VSE3 | None | Local publications | Regional publications | National publications | International publications |
| VSE4 | None | Moderate level of processes but hard to explain to non-experts), | Good example of processes but hard to explain to non-experts | Moderate level of processes but easy to explain to common visitor | Good example of processes and easy to explain to common visitor |
| VSA1 | None | 1 | 2 to 3 | 4 to 6 | More than 6 |
| VSA2 | Small | - | Medium | - | Large |
| VSA3 | - | Low | Medium | High | Utmost |
| VSA4 | Unfitting | - | Neutral | - | Fitting |
| VPr1 | None | Local | Regional | National | International |
| VPr2 | Irreversible (with possibility of total loss) | High (could be easily damaged) | Medium (could be damaged by natural processes or human activities) | Low (could be damaged only by human activities) | None |
| VPr3 | 0 | 0 to 10 | 10 to 20 | 20 to 50 | More than 50 |
| VPr4 | Inaccessible | Low (on foot with special equipment and expert guide tours) | Medium (by bicycle and other means of man-powered transport) | High (by car) | Utmost (by bus) |
| VFn1 | None | 1 | 2 to 3 | 4 to 6 | More than 6 |
| VFn2 | None | 1 | 2 to 3 | 4 to 6 | More than 6 |
| VFn3 | More than 100km | 100 to 50km | 50 to 25km | 25 to 5km | Less than 5km |
| VFn4 | None | Local | Regional | National | International |
| VFn5 | None | Low | Medium | High | Utmost |
| VTr1 | None | Local | Regional | National | International |
| VTr2 | None | Less than 12 per year | 12 to 24 per year | 24 to 48 per year | More than 48 per year |
| VTr3 | More than 50km | 50 to 20km | 20 to 5km | 5 to 1km | Less than 1km |
| VTr4 | None | Low quality | Medium quality | High quality | Utmost quality |
| VTr5 | None | Low (less than 5000) | Medium (5001 to 10.000) | High (10.001 to 100.000) | Utmost (more than 100.000) |
| VTr6 | None | Low | Medium | High | Utmost |
| VTr7 | None | Low | Medium | High | Utmost |
| VTr8 | More than 50 km | 25-50 km | 10-25 km | 5-10 km | Less than 5km |
| VTr9 | More than 25 km | 10-25 km | 10-5 km | 1-5 km | Less than 1 km |
| VHt1 | None | Low | Moderate | High | Utmost |
| VHt2 | None | Low | Moderate | High | Utmost |
| VHt3 | None | Low | Moderate | High | Utmost |
| VHt4 | None | Low | Moderate | High | Utmost |
| VHt5 | None | Low | Moderate | High | Utmost |
Table 3:
Descriptive statistics
| Country of origin | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Croatia | 60 |
| Austria | 224 |
| Germany | 235 |
| Switzerland | 72 |
| Slovenia | 42 |
| Hungary | 54 |
| Total | 687 |
| Gender | Frequency |
| Male | 292 |
| Female | 395 |
| Total | 687 |
| Age | Frequency |
| Under 15 | 13 |
| 16-30 | 282 |
| 31-45 | 326 |
| 46-60 | 43 |
| 61-75 | 16 |
| Over 76 | 7 |
| Total | 687 |
| First time or more than once? | Frequency |
| First time | 466 |
| More than once | 221 |
| Total | 687 |
Table 4:
Modified GAM Estimates
| Main | Additional | |
|---|---|---|
| VSE + VSA +VPr | VFn + VTr+VHt | |
| G1 | 2.83+3.41+2.03 8.27 | 3.81+2.95+4.85 11.61 Z33 |
| Mean | 3.61 | 2.73 |
Figure 1:
Structural equation model diagram with standardised estimates