Nature-based tourism

Prírodný turizmus sa, predovšetkým v menej rozvinutých oblastiach Slovenska, javí ako jeden z primárnych nástrojov na sprostredkovanie reálnej ekonomicky ako aj ekologicky udržateľnej alternatívy s výrazným potenciálom pre rozvoj daného regiónu a zvrátenie jeho nepriaznivej demografickej situácie. Z tohto dôvodu bolo žiaduce zadefinovať rámce a princípy prírodného turizmu v slovenských podmienkach.

Veľmi rýchlo sa ukázalo, že za prírodný turizmus nemôže byť považovaná akákoľvek aktivita cestovného ruchu realizovaná v prírodnom prostredí, keďže mnohé z foriem tohto odvetvia majú nepriaznivý vplyv na prírodné prostredie, prekračujú únosnosť a ekologickú valenciu (toleranciu) územia alebo jednoducho neprinášajú výhody pre miestne komunity a sú len inou formou neudržateľného využívania prírodných zdrojov regiónu.

Naopak, prírodný turizmus podľa tohto konceptu má tieto negatívne vplyvy odstraňovať a objektívne prispievať k ochrane životného prostredia a zlepšeniu podmienok pre život ľudí.

Zadaća ovoga priručnika i seminara je približiti kasnoantički obrambeni sistem Claustra Alpium Iuliarum, slikovito prikazati arheološke lokalitete te prirodu koji ga okružuje: povijest, arheologiju, biologiju, arheološke lokalitete, živi svijet i nekad i danas.

The purpose of this research is to explore the role of online photography in creating experience value in nature-based tourism, and what types of experience value are conveyed through photography-based user-generated content. The paper draws from existing literature in defining tourism experience value as a subjective, inter-subjective and inter-contextual construct, performed by situated valuation practices. Consequently, the paper presents interpretive and participatory netnography as an effective method to investigate experience value, and identifies online photography on Instagram as both a valuing practice and a valuing place. Results show the capability of online photography-based UGC to create multidimensional values from strategic combinations of textual and visual content. Simultaneously, new dimensions of experience value are introduced, which exist beyond single tourism experiential encounters, but critically contribute to an iterative experience valuation. Finally, Instagram posts introduce valuation timelines that can elude linear models of pre/in-situ/post-experience valuation, and assume subjective and fluid connotations.

If you have ever gone off the track riding over rough terrain, then you can relate with the feeling one gets, after a long ride with life’s best mountain bike when sweat is dripping and muscles are tired but we still laugh and enjoy the landscape. This conqueror feeling does tremendous healing to our mental stress, anxiety, and insecurities. As health concerns including obesity, heart disease, mental health, and diabetes are on the rise, physical exercise, especially in the outdoors while inhaling fresh air without the requirement of best air purifiers, is becoming more critical to our health as individuals and as a society.

The Delos3 Workshop

The third workshop of the Delos Initiative took place from 1 to 3 July 2010. in Inari, Lapland, Finland. It was organised jointly by the Delos Initiative and Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services that was the local organiser and host. Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services manages Finland’s state owned protected areas, including 35 national parks. The Ministry of the Environment and the IUCN National Committee of Finland also supported the event. The Sámi Museum and Nature Centre Siida at Inari, Finland was the venue of the workshop.

The indigenous Sámi people participated in the Delos 3 Workshop as keynote speakers and observers. The President of the Finnish Sámi Parliament Klemetti Näkkäläjärvi and Sámi Museum Director Tarmo Jomppanen welcomed the sacred natural site experts to Finnish Sámi homeland. Researchers from Norway and Finland shed also light on Sámi culture.

The workshop was attended by 30 participants from 14 countries. The theme of the meeting was ‘Diversity of Sacred Lands in Europe’. Interconnectiveness between human beings and the natural world, as well as the respect of indigenous people for nature emerged as key issues during the workshop. The participants were particularly impressed by the Sámi traditions and profound relation to nature, as well as the close co-operation between their Parliament and the Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services.

In addition, the diversity of SNS in Europe and that of the minority faiths in the broader continent were examined during workshop sessions. Moreover, the management of lands of mainstream religions and of monastic communities was also addressed, and an evaluation of the IUCN-UNESCO Guidelines for Managers of Protected Areas on SNS was made.

The workshop programme included a visit to a Sámi sacred site the Ukonsaari Island on Lake Inari and a hike to Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church. Ukonsaari is recognised under the Delos Initiative.

The workshop proceedings were published in book form in 2011 and include texts of the contributions presented during the meeting.

Special Nature Reserve Milesevka and the Mileseva Monastery Abstract

Located at the heart of Raska, considered a holy region since the beginning of the 12th century, when the first Serbian state was established by the holy Nemanjic dynasty, the Mileseva Monastery became the most sacred place of the Serbian Orthodox Church, especially when the relics of Saint Sava were transferred there from Trnovo (Bulgaria) in 1236. From that time on, it became a place of pilgrimage for the Serbians and other Orthodox nations from the Balkans, which continue until this day. The immediate surroundings of the Monastery are dominated by the impressive canyon of the river Milesevka, with mediaeval fortifications on the rocky top, St. Sava’s cave and its holy spring, as well as a plethora of monastic hermitages. In 1979, the Monastery was declared Cultural Property of Exceptional National Significance, and in 1990, Protected Area of Natural and Cultural Importance. Although the Monastery was torn down many times in its history, like other Serbian holy places, its spiritual radiance has been preserved.

Perhaps due to this origin the “holy unity” between Nature and the Monastery has always been preserved. The gorge of the Milesevka River, where the Monastery is situated, was designated Regional Nature Park in 1976. In the closest vicinity is the Uvac Special Nature Reserve, established in 1971. Those two natural assets make one inseparable unity and are particularly important for the protection and conservation of the griffon vulture population, the flagship species of the region.

The collapse of the old regime, sanctions, ethnic conflicts in the Balkans and NATO strikes caused economic stagnation in the region, leading to local population migrations. Poverty, institutional and personal irresponsibility, incompetence and lack of planning led to the exploitation of the natural resources, and uncontrolled building.  However, many cultural events are being organised, which fulfill the pilgrims’ spiritual needs. After consultation with the main stakeholders, a number of recommendations have been made -covering a wide range of issues from planning to specific management aspects- that can affront the main challenges and pressures the site is receiving.

This paper explores local perception and preferences concerning the development of nature tourism in Hong Kong. The results of a sample of local residents (n = 376) confirm a domestic market of relatively older, better educated and higher income residents who generally display a moderate overall interest in nature tourism. From the perspectives of host and user, local residents consider the promotion and expansion of infrastructure to be important for increasing the attractiveness of nature tourism. However, the respondents also take divergent attitudes towards promoting nature tourism to the Mainland visitors, such that three distinctive groups are identified. The conflicting views of local people on nature tourism, and low confidence in the government's ability to handle tourism impact, create a considerable obstacle and unsuitable timing for the development of nature tourism in Hong Kong, unless it is coupled with an ease in tensions and the presence of a long-term nature tourism strategy.

Within little more than a generation, whale-watching has been subject to global industrial development. It has been portrayed by destinations and business operators, and advocated by environmental groups, as a sustainable activity and an alternative to whaling. However, in recent years the sustainability of these activities has increasingly been questioned, as research shows that repeated disturbance by boat
traffic can severely disrupt critical behaviours of cetaceans in the wild.
Bringing together contributions by international experts, this volume addresses complex issues associated with commercial whale-watching, sustainable development and conservation of the global marine environment. It highlights widely expressed concerns for the failure of policy, planning and management, and pinpoints both long-standing and emerging barriers to sustainable practice. Featuring numerous case studies, the book provides critical insights into the diverse socio-cultural, political, economic and ecological contexts of this global industry, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise along the pathways to sustainability.

This dissertation contributes to developing knowledge on the
commercialization of natural resources through tourism. This is achieved by means of understanding the main avenues through which natural resources are commercialized, and analyzing the operational setting of tourism firms. The focal area is nature-based tourism– a type of tourism, taking place in comparatively unmodified natural areas, which has emerged as a powerful gravitational force, integrating an increasing variety of natural resources into the commercial domain. The point of departure is the assumption that for nature-based tourism firms, nature is simultaneously the main object of commercialization and the operational setting, where this commercialization happens. The attention here is, therefore, on the supply side, i.e. on the small and micro firms, acting as the agents of commercialization. The empirical data come primarily from a nation-wide survey among the nature-based tourism firms in Sweden, generating the most comprehensive information about this sector to date. Additional data come from in-depth interviews and observations among the nature-based tourism firms in Sweden, as well as secondary sources (official statistics on natural resources and a survey in Norway).

This is a compilation thesis, i.e. it consists of a cover essay and five individual papers. The cover essay offers a bird’s eye view on all the papers, frames them theoretically and synthesizes all the findings into a coherent contribution. Papers I and II create the foundation, necessary for understanding the processes of nature commercialization and the operational setting of naturebased tourism firms, while Papers III, IV and V provide supplementary insights into these areas of inquiry. Paper I starts by building on existing knowledge in outdoor recreation to approach nature-based tourism. Paper II focuses on the operational setting, conceptualizes and explores its dimensions. Building on this, Paper III looks at how the presence of various amenities in the operational setting can explain the localization patterns of the firms on various geographical levels. Paper IV focuses on the operational setting dimensions omitted in the previous papers, i.e. the continuous efforts of the firms to negotiate the inherent uncertainty within the setting. Finally, Paper V looks at various characteristics of nature-based tourism firms to
understand the specifics of sustainability strategies.

La recuperación, la construcción y la promoción de la identidad del territorio es un proceso fundamental en las estrategias articuladas para su sostenibilidad hacia el futuro. La identidad territorial está conectada con las imágenes, las representaciones que integran las claves de su identificación y sus valores significativos. Desde esta perspectiva, patrimonio, memoria y paisaje son elementos fundamentales en la dinámica territorial. Su papel es de especial importancia en los territorios de interior, de carácter rural. En Galicia, configuran espacios en los que las iniciativas de desarrollo están condicionadas por diversos programas de desarrollo rural y de promoción turística. La reflexión sobre los planteamientos, procedimientos y técnicas para su estudio fundamenta la elaboración de la propuesta metodológica que presentamos.

There is great potential for the development of adventure tourism in Southern Africa for a number of reasons. One is the variety of landscapes provided by South Africa's natural environment that are suitable for adventure tourism activities, many of which remain relatively pristine. In addition, the development of adventure tourism has significant potential to uplift local communities through local economic development strategies due to the relatively low capital needed to establish many activities considered adventure tourism. However, very little research exists on this important industry in the South African context. Th is research note, therefore, highlights three important aspects of adventure tourism development in South Africa. First, the challenges facing the adventure tourism industry are addressed. Three of the most significant challenges to its development are the need for specific skills among staff , the use of adventure tourism as a pro-poor development strategy, and environmental management concerns associated with adventure tourism. Next, an overview of existing research is given, much of which has focused on specific adventure activities and destinations in South Africa. Finally, and most importantly, a detailed outline is offered of further research that would assist in the management and development of adventure tourism in South Africa in the future.

As human beings, we continue to have significant impacts on the environment and its resources. Environmental
education seems to be the best tool for providing the public with an understanding of the ramifications of their actions and
behavior patterns in order to increase sensitivity and concern surrounding environmental issues. This can be done by taking aid
of nature parks and other environmental education centers. Nature Parks are now viewed as places which offer much more than
just recreation and leisure. These parks influence visitors at a much deeper level and help them realize the importance of the
environment and the need for conservation and one such park is Maharashtra Nature Park, Mumbai.
This research was aimed at studying Maharashtra Nature Park and its role in environmental education using a questionnaire
survey method. Around 160 individuals were interviewed. These individuals belonged to the age group of 18 and above. The
questions were based on their awareness about the park and their experiences after visiting the park. According to the data
collected, most individuals agree that Maharashtra Nature park has indeed helped them to become environmentally aware and
sensitive. There was also a consensus to the fact that more centers like Maharashtra Nature Park should be set up to help
increase environmental awareness amongst the public

Esse plano de trabalho é associado ao projeto de pesquisa “A ecomotricidade no estado de Sergipe”, iniciado no ano de 2014. Ecomotricidade é compreendida como a intencionalidade do ser em suas inter-ações com a natureza, desde que essa inter-ação seja lúdica e ecológica. A relação é lúdica quando o que traz significação para a experiência é a alegria ou o prazer circunscritos à própria experiência. A relação é ecológica quando se satisfazem os preceitos (ecosomaestéticos-ambientalmente éticos-ecopolíticos) da justiça ambiental. Justificando-se na crítica à associação direta entre o contato com a natureza e as possibilidades de conscientização/educação ambiental e compreendendo a importância do engajamento ecopedagógico para a concretização de mudanças no habitus ecológico do sujeito, o objetivo do projeto é investigar aspectos fundamentais da relação de homens e mulheres com suas experiências de ecomotricidade no estado de Sergipe buscando a identificação de categorias analíticas que fundamentem percepções sobre como essas relações influenciam percepções ser humano-mundo. Tal investigação é realizada a partir do desenvolvimento de dezoito estudos de caso com indivíduos com experiências regulares na natureza. A análise dos dados destaca o potencial para se (re)conhecer possibilidades e limitações para o desenvolvimento de processos educativos nas relações corpo-meio ambiente, especialmente pela “normalização” de valores (estéticos, éticos e políticos) da ecomotricidade localizados geo-epistemologicamente no habitus de movimento do indivíduo.

Taiwan consists of one main island, 12 surrounding islets (with an area over 5 km 2), and a further 153 smaller islands with a combined terrestrial area of 36,193 km 2. Two thirds of the main island consist of a mountainous backbone that contains more than 260 peaks over 3,000 m. The main island was formed approximately 4-5 million years ago at a complex convergent boundary between the Eurasian and Philippine Sea Plates. Subsequently cut off from the Asian continent, Taiwan is highly valued for its endemism and biodiversity from sea to summit, with over 1,000 km of coastline including several bays with mangrove forests (MacKinnon & Yan, 2008). Taiwan's biodiversity inventory shows 63 species of mammals (including 10 endemic); 445 species of birds (14 endemic); and over 4000 species of higher plants (1,075 endemic) (Hsu, 2014). Taiwan Forestry Bureau (2018) estimated the overall extent of forest cover at 58%, with an annual decline of 0.6%. The first protected areas established in Taiwan were 3 national parks designated in 1937 during the Japanese colonial era (Lu et al., 2015). The designation criteria closely resembled that of national parks on the Japanese mainland, with Tatun, Tsugitaka-Taroko and Niitaka-Alishan National Parks selected as examples of magnificent mountain landscapes and sightseeing spots (Kanda, 2012). During the period after World War II, the Taiwan Authority's national policy prioritized

As tendências das dinâmicas do lazer e desportivas verificadas nas últimas décadas, a par da crescente procura dos espaços naturais, têm levado à expansão e à diversificação do turismo na natureza e de aventura. Regiões como os Açores apresentam um forte potencial para o desenvolvimento deste produto mas é necessário garantir um modelo de desenvolvimento turístico sustentável, centrado nos recursos endógenos e na diversificação de produtos turísticos, para ir ao encontro das expectativas dos visitantes e, simultaneamente, assegurar a minimização dos impactos com a atividade turística. A aposta em produtos específicos como a observação de cetáceos ou o canyoning permite desenvolver clusters turísticos que, para além de proporcionarem a satisfação dos visitantes, contribuem para aumentar a sua permanência e para atrair segmentos de turistas cujo motivo principal de viagem seja a prática dessas atividades.
Neste artigo apresenta-se o caso da atividade de canyoning nos Açores enquadrada no âmbito do turismo na natureza e do desporto de aventura, incluindo os recursos e as potencialidades para a prática desta atividade, a sistematização do trabalho realizado para desenvolver este produto no arquipélago e uma análise da oferta turística deste segmento na região. Os aspetos essenciais do planeamento operacional da modalidade, em particular da gestão do risco e gestão ambiental, são discutidos numa perspetiva de orientação da oferta dos serviços para a qualidade, segurança e sustentabilidade.

Esse plano de trabalho é associado ao projeto de pesquisa “A ecomotricidade no estado de Sergipe”, iniciado no ano de 2014. Ecomotricidade é compreendida como a intencionalidade do ser em suas inter-ações com a natureza, desde que essa inter-ação seja lúdica e ecológica. A relação é lúdica quando o que traz significação para a experiência é a alegria ou o prazer circunscritos à própria experiência. A relação é ecológica quando se satisfazem os preceitos (ecosomaestéticos-ambientalmente éticos-ecopolíticos) da justiça ambiental. Nesse ano de pesquisa foram finalizadas as etapas de unitarização e categorização (Análise Textual Qualitativa) dos 93 textos que totalizam o corpus da pesquisa. Dessa análise emergiram sete (7) categorias, nas quais foram enquadradas todas as unidades de significado destacadas do corpus, a saber: Relação com meio ambiente/natureza; Relações com o jogo e com o esporte; Risco; aventura; radical; Benefícios e sensações positivas; Espaço e tempo para educação (ambiental); Opção de lazer; Formação de culturas e identidades. A análise interpretativa dessas categorias possibilitou discussões e conclusões em relação aos objetivos centrais da pesquisa.

The focus in this chapter is on the results from a survey of visitors to Lamington National Park (LNP), an outstanding subtropical national park located in southeast Queensland, Australia. A sample of 622 day and overnight visitors to the O'Reilly's/Green Mountains site of LNP is used to identify their socio-economic and other pertinent characteristics and the main factors and attributes that attract them to this site. Particular attention is given to birds and their attributes as attractions. The comparative importance of factors (especially natural attributes) that attract visitors are assessed. The primary economic injection accruing locally as a result of visits is examined and the difference that the presence of birds makes to local expenditure by visitors is explored. The extent of support for and opposition to the introduction of an entry fee for LNP is estimated. This issue was discussed in detail (and aspects of the responses of visitors to this possibility were modelled) in Chapter 3. Hence, only the general results are reported in this chapter. The entry fees are discussed because suggestions received from visitors for environmental improvements at this site are dealt with here. It is concluded that unless a way can be found to regulate the number of visitors to this site and obtain extra funds to finance improvements, the magnitude of many of its environmental problems will grow. This will necessitate a fresh look at the desirability, or otherwise of charging entry fees to LNP, as discussed in Chapter 3 and Wilson and Tisdell (2004).

The Hibiscus Coast Municipality assumed it had the authority to issue or amend by-laws to formalise an existing nudist friendly beach within the Mpenjati Nature Reserve. Following a complaint, the Public Protector concluded the same when she investigated the legality of the Municipality's actions. Two immediate questions arise. The first, whether the Municipality and the Public Protector were correct in their view that the Municipality has the authority over the beach irrespective of the presence of a protected area, and the second, whether nudism is a legal activity therein. Both the Municipality and the Public Protector overlooked the relevance of the nudist friendly beach being located within a protected area and the power of the management authority to determine the nature of the tourism that takes place therein. Nudism within a protected area appears not to be in conflict with the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1969 and hence may be a legitimate activity within such area. The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 and the Regulations thereunder appear not to contain provisions that prohibit nudism or other niche nature based tourism activities. Provided that the activity conforms to the purpose of the Act and protected area management plan and zonation and does not pose a significant physical risk to the integrity of the protected area, the conservation agency may be hard-pressed to refuse a request for a niche nature based tourism activity, such as nudism, to be included in the zonation-should one be received.

Wildlife tourism is often considered environmentally friendly, but it has the potential to cause various negative effects on populations, behaviour and welfare of wildlife. A search of local and international literature, coupled with interviews with personnel from government conservation agencies, identified many potential and actual problems. These effects can be grouped into: disruption of activity, direct killing or injury, and habitat alteration (including provision of food). The magnitude and seriousness of negative effects can vary enormously depending on species, life-cycle stages, habitats and other variables. Management processes that identify potential and actual negative effects and implement actions to correct them are critical to sustainable wildlife tourism, particularly if there is further growth of this sector. Management actions designed to mitigate negative effects of wildlife tourism on wildlife typically focus on management of visitors, and can use a variety of different methods. Monitoring of wildlife that could be affected by wildlife tourism activities is particularly critical to sustainability, and should incorporate well- established statistical principles where possible. However there is a need for a user-friendly guide to wildlife monitoring for Australian conditions and specifically relating to the tourism industry. Some species and situations may need to be precluded from wildlife tourism altogether. Overall, there is a need for more comprehensive and better funded management and monitoring of the effects of wildlife tourism on wildlife if we are to assure its long-term sustainability.

This article examines the growth of Community-Based Tourism within the broader discipline of tourism. New topics in the field have emerged such as responsible tourism, pro-poor tourism, sports tourism and moral impacts of tourism. This phenomenon also reflects the multi-disciplinarity of tourism. In this article, using the Title, Abstract and Keywords (TAK) for instances in which the words (Community-based Tourism, Community Tourism and Community-Based Eco-Tourism) to subsume Community-Based Tourism (CBT), a search was made in various databases and found that CBT as a sub-specialty of tourism started to emerge in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The number of articles published specifically on CBT has been growing phenomenally. The major contribution of this article is that we now know the evolution of CBT and we also now know its trajectory of growth which has been upward. While the number of articles on CBT is growing, there is no journal dedicated solely to CBT.

This article re-examines the theoretical basis for environmental and heritage interpretation in tourist settings in the light of hermeneutic philosophy. It notes that the pioneering vision of heritage interpretation formulated by Freeman Tilden envisaged a broadly educational, ethically informed and transformative art. By contrast, current cognitive psychological attempts to reduce interpretation to the monological transmission of information, targeting universal but individuated cognitive structures, are found to be wanting. Despite growing signs of diversity, this information processing approach to interpretation remains dominant. The article then presents the alternative paradigm of hermeneutics through the works of Schleiermacher, Dilthey, Heidegger and Gadamer, to provide a broader interpretation of interpretation. This not only captures the essence of Tilden's definition but construes heritage interpretation as a more inclusive, culturally situated, critically reflexive and dialogical practice.

Keywords: environmental interpretation; heritage tourism; hermeneutics; Gadamer;
Heidegger; Tilden

This report starts with a presentation of the main characteristics that define nature-based tourism, together with an overview of nature-based tourism in Russian protected areas. Some illustrative cases taken in the North-West Federal District of Russia, Mari El Republic, and the Krasnodar
territory are provided. The state of the art for Russian nature-based tourism is analysed through those cases. Then, an analysis is conducted to identify the current strengths and weaknesses of this Russian tourism, as well as opportunities and potential risks to consider, for Russia to improve its position as a nature-based tourism destination. The report concludes by offering strategic recommendations for future development, sustainable management, marketing, and guidelines to enhance human resource development through universities.

Özet Turizm destinasyonlarının etkin bir şekilde yönetilebilmesi ve pazarlanabilmesi için, doğru planlama elzemdir. Plansız bir gelişim, beklenen getiriyi sağlayamadığı gibi bölge kaynaklarının sürdürülebilirliğini de olumsuz etkileyecektir. Bu sebeple destinasyon için amaç ve hedefler belirlenmeden önce turizm potansiyeli değerlendirilmekte ve envanter çalışmaları yürütülmektedir. Kastamonu birçok turistik arz kaynağına sahip olmakla birlikte bu kaynakların ortaya konduğu ve sınıflandırıldığı kapsamlı bir araştırma gerçekleştirilmemiştir. Bu eksiklik destinasyon paydaşları katılımının olduğu çalıştay, sempozyum gibi toplantılarda sıklıkla dile getirilmektedir. Bu sebeple araştırmada Kastamonu genelinde tüm turizm arz kaynaklarının değerlendirilmesi ve tek bir kaynakta toplanması planlanmıştır. Tasnifte ve okumada kolaylık sağlaması açısından ilçeler bazında bir envanter oluşturulmasına karar verilmiştir. Bu sayede ilçelerin öncelikli olarak odaklanması gereken turizm türlerini belirleyerek akademik bir katkı sunmak hedeflenmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda Kastamonu ilinin başat turistik çekiciliğinin tabiat turizmi alt türleri ve doğa sporu faaliyetleri olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Türlerin gerçekleştirildiği ilçelere ilişkin veriler tek tabloda sunulmuştur. Abstract Correct planning is essential for the efficient management and marketing of tourism destinations. An unplanned development will not provide the expected return and will negatively affect the sustainability of the regional resources. For this reason, tourism potential is evaluated and inventory studies are carried out before the goals and targets are determined for the destination. Although Kastamonu has many touristic supply resources, no comprehensive research has been conducted in which these resources are put forward and classified. This deficiency is frequently mentioned in meetings such as workshops and symposiums with the participation of destination stakeholders. For this reason, it is planned to evaluate all tourism supply resources in Kastamonu and to gather them in a single source. It was decided to create an inventory by districts for ease of classification and reading. In this way, it is aimed to make an academic contribution by identifying the types of tourism that districts should primarily focus on. As a result of the research, it was concluded that the main tourist attraction of Kastamonu province is the sub-types of nature tourism and nature sports activities. The data related to the districts where the species were performed are presented in a single table.

ABSTRACK This article tries to realize a solution how to make use of geology for eco-tourism and economic activities at the site management level. The paradigm in the management of geowisata is how the management of tourism is able to optimize the potential of nature (geology) to be added value for the economic welfare of local communities, as well as able to minimize the potential of natural damage. Therefore, this article attempts to recommend a geotourism management model. The management of geo-tourism is in five main focuses, including: formulating the natural potential that can be used for geotourism activities, formulating criteria of geo-tourism destinations, geo-tourism management, formulating activities in geo-tourism activities, and finally on indicators of success or from geo-tourism output. ABSTRAK Artikel ini mencoba mewujudkan sebuah solusi bagaimana memanfaatkan kekayaan geologi beserta berbagai dinamikanya untuk kegiatan wisata dan ekonomi yang berwawasan lingkungan pada tingkatan manajemen tapak. Paradigma dalam pengelolaan geowisata adalah bagaimana pengelolaan pariwisata mampu mengoptimalkan potensi alam (geologi) menjadi bernilai tambah bagi kesejahteraan ekonomi masyarakat lokal, sekaligus mampu menekan seminimal mungkin potensi kerusakan alam. Oleh karena itu, artikel ini mencoba merekomendasikan model pengelolaan geowisata. Pengeloaan geowisata berada dalam lima fokus utama, yaitu : merumuskan potensi alam yang dapat digunakan untuk kegiatan geowisata, merumuskan kriteria-kriteria destinasi geowisata, manajemen geowisata, merumuskan aktifitas dalam kegiatan geowisata, dan terakhir mengenai indikator keberhasilan atau dari output geowisata. Kata kunci: Geowisata, pariwisata alam, geologi pariwisata

Azores are a group of 9 volcanic oceanic islands located remotely in the North Atlantic Ocean, part of the Portuguese territory, and an Ultra-periphery region of the EU. The Azores have been experiencing an increase on the number of ecotourists, with obvious ecological implications (e.g. littering, habitat disturbance). To guarantee the tourist’s safety is also very important. During a week on July 2009, we surveyed the 3 oficial trails located on Sta. Maria Island, on an extension of approximately 30 km. Two of these cross protected areas included in Natura 2000 network. In general, the ecosystems containing the trails appeared well preserved, probably due to the low population density and lower tourist demand, when compared to its neighbor island of S. Miguel. Though some problems were identified along the way, such as lack of appropriate information or absence of safety infrastructures, the overall evaluation of the trails was good.

In Crooked Tree the fledgling ecotourism industry is entirely locally managed but it promises no household a full income.  The wildlife sanctuary is home to growing numbers of Jabiru storks, roseate spoonbills and other spectacular waterfowl, but appears to be suffering declining fish and game populations.  A number of community members are involved in the ecotourism industry and some are involved with sanctuary in a variety of ways -- some supportive, some antagonistic.  The glossy reports of ecotourism as an ideal means of sustainable development, even when done on a small scale, even when locally organized and with lots of local involvement, belie a much more complex and uncertain reality.  Empty bed and breakfasts and four-hundred-pound fish hauls with gill nets occur in the same week that a local tour guide makes twice the average monthly wage and seven ten-year-old children decide that they are no longer going to hunt parrots and other birds with slingshots, because he thought the birds “should be protected.”    Villagers have complex ideas and opinions about what should and could be happening in this village, and the future of the sanctuary, the ecotourism industry, and the village in general, is opaque.
Through a combination of ethnographic and historical analysis this dissertation explores how people have lived in and with this land since the village was settled, perhaps as long as 300 years ago, how they think about this “place” and their role in it, and how these ideas relate to what people do and have done in this place.  Out of the ensuing pages emerges a picture of the complexities surrounding conservation and development in Belize, a picture which has important ramifications for understanding other areas in the world in which various projects for sustainable development have been suggested and implemented.  My ultimate goal is that these words I have written have relevance in the real world; I hope policy makers, conservationists, and rural people, who are experiencing the activities of the former two, will make use of the stories I tell.

On lit très souvent dans la presse que le Var est un des plus beaux départements de France, grâce à ses paysages remarquables, divers et son climat très ensoleillé. Selon l’insee, le Var est le département le plus dynamique de la région Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur (PACA) : “Depuis 2011, la population du Var progresse de 8 600 habitants par an. Dans le Var, il y a plus d’arrivées que de départs. [...] Le département est le plus dynamique en PACA en terme de croissance démographique”. Cela fait du département la deuxième destination touristique après l’Île de France. En effet, les plages, les activités en mer, les massifs forestiers, mais aussi les villages typiques de la Côte d’Azur et leurs activités ludiques et commerciales sont très prisées par les touristes français et internationaux.

C’est avant tout le littoral varois qui rend le département attractif. La définition géographique du “littoral” est la zone de contact entre la terre et la mer. Nous étendrons cette définition aux espaces ayant un lien physique ou économique avec la mer et les activités qui la touchent. Il est important de délimiter le territoire que nous étudions : le littoral du Var débute à la commune de Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer et termine à la commune de Saint Raphaël.

    Le littoral est très prisé par le tourisme, mais il est aussi très impacté par celui-ci. Ghislain Dubois, spécialiste du transport aérien et du changement climatique et directeur de TEC Conseil, remarque : “A la question “quel littoral souhaitez-vous?”, 81% [des Français] répondent “que la nature soit préservée”, 33% répondent “que l’on privilégie l’accès libre à la mer”, 28% “qu’il soit le moins urbanisé possible”. Les impacts principaux sont : l’érosion et la pollution, dues le plus souvent à une fréquentation massive du littoral et au non-respect des réglementations des espaces protégés. Ces impacts sont la conséquence de la rencontre de deux réalités : à la fois une fréquentation touristique massive ainsi que des espaces remarquables recherchés par les touristes. Autrement dit, plus les espaces naturels sont remarquables, plus ils attirent de visiteurs, et plus ils sont détériorés. Le paradoxe est bien présent, et plusieurs façon de le surmonter existent.

Nature-based solutions harness the power and sophistication of nature to turn environmental, social and economic challenges into innovation opportunities. They can address a variety of societal challenges in sustainable ways, with the potential to contribute to green growth, 'future-proofing' society, fostering citizen well-being, providing business opportunities and positioning Europe as a leader in world markets. 

Nature-based solutions are actions which are inspired by, supported by or copied from nature. They have tremendous potential to be energy and resource-efficient and resilient to change, but to be successful they must be adapted to local conditions. 


Nature-based tourism has grown in importance in recent decades, and strong links have been established between it and ecotourism.  This reflects rising incomes, greater levels of educational attainment and changing values, especially in the Western world.  Nature-based tourism is quite varied.  Different types of such tourism are identified and their consequences for sustainability of their resource-base are briefly considered.  The development and management of nature-based tourism involves many economic aspects, several of which are discussed.  For example, one must consider the economics of reserving or protecting land for this type of tourism.  What economic factors should be taken into account?  Economists stress the importance of taking into account the opportunity costs involved in such a decision.  This concept is explained.  However, determining the net economic value of an area used for tourism is not straightforward.  Techniques for doing this, such as the travel cost method and stated value methods, are introduced.  Natural areas reserved for tourism may have economic value not only for tourism but also jointly for other purposes, such as conserving wildlife, maintaining hydrological cycles and so on.  These other purposes, should be taken into account when considering the use of land for nature-based tourism.  According to one economic point of view, land should be used in a way that maximises its total economic value.  While this approach has its merits, it does not take into account the distribution of benefits from land use and its local impacts on income and employment.  These can be quite important politically and for nature conservation, and are discussed.  Finally, there is some discussion of whether fees charged to tourists for access to environmental resources should discriminate between domestic tourists and foreigners.

In the Azores archipelago, an outmost Portuguese region, the natural areas are its main tourist attraction. Among those, protected areas (PA) are most valued to nature-based tourism, but are also the most sensitive to its impacts. In Portugal, tourism of nature is among the top 10 priority products to the development, and the Azores are particularly prone to support this kind of tourism.
On a survey conducted in 2009, made to build the profile of the tourist visiting the Azores, hiking along trails was the second most practiced activity by tourists, right after whale watching. This is a good indicator of the growing potential that this activity has, in the region. Also the assessment of the tourist carrying capacity of the Azorean trails, crossing PA in two Azorean islands with different visitation levels, showed that these trails can receive a greater number of visitants, even though this use depends on the season, being greater in the summer.
According to our data hiking can be regarded as a promising activity in the Azores, and as such some exploration models for the activity are proposed here. Among those, we defend the involvement of local ENGOs, in the management of the trails for hiking, since there are no entrance gates to limit the access to the areas or to charge an entrance fee.