GEOTOURISM AS A STRATEGY OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PAIPA- IZA VOLCANIC COMPLEX IN THE EASTERN ANDES OF COLOMBIA: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH1

Geotourism is an emerging discipline based on experiencing the Earth's geological ele-ments. This paper highlights the role that geotourism can play as a strategy that helps boost sustainable rural development of the Paipa municipality in Boyaca Department, Colombia. The need for the development of infrastructure for geotourism is urgently required as its natural and cultural heritage can be destroyed by anthropogenic activi-ties. Geotourism in the Paipa-Iza Volcanic Complex (Colombia) has an extraordinary potential to be designated as a territory for aspiring to UNESCO Global Geopark status.