Desenvolvimento turístico e governança em espaços de montanha: contributo para a sustentabilidade turística das serras da Cordilheira Central

Abstract

Mountain regions are having a growing tourist enhancement owing to their natural and cultural resources, their environmental integrity, the increase of tourist practices and expansion of hotel industry. Diversified activities are undertaken in these tourist places with diverse implications on the environment and on the socioeconomic organization, involving processes of tourist planning suitable to the current dynamics. The management of these mountain regions has been carried out marginally because of the absence of targeted policies toward these territories, or just, because spatial planning tools have only been considered in protected areas, if they are under such categorization or under special projects. It is recognized that the formal planning tools have neglected these areas and their geographical expression requires forms of articulation that the administrative division cannot constrain, such as the mountain range of the Central Cordillera. Therefore, it’s necessary to promote their enhancement, social equity and guidelines for the tourism promotion. In short, it is essential to define policies that safeguard multifunctionality and heritage, allowing tourism activities to increase population´s levels of well-being and boost the economy, according to a development model that promotes territorial cohesion and sustainable tourism.