A new approach to assess the ecotourism potential in protected areas: the case study of Peneda-Gerês National Park

Abstract

Most of the ecotourism research focuses only on the ecotourism impacts on communities or environment, with few combining biological, ecological and cultural variables. Through the need to develop new approaches in this area to sustain the biodiversity conservation and rural communities’ development, there was set forth a methodology to assess the ecotourism potential of five hiking trails, both spatially and temporally, in the Peneda-Gerês National Park. There were combined eight different criteria to achieve the ecotourism potential of these trails and they were evaluated through the annual seasons. Results illustrated that some trails have more potential for the development of recreational activities than the others. In a temporal scale analysis, all seasons have great potential for the development of such activities. These data allow managing efficiently tourists and their impacts on wildlife and may enhance the local economy. This novel approach can contribute to the main goal of ecotourism, the sustainable development.