Water Resources and Tourism Development in Estrela Geopark Territory: Meaning and Contributions of Fluvial Beaches to Valorise the Destination

Rural areas and in particular mountain territories have been experiencing an increasing appreciation of natural and heritage resources and their use for recreational and leisure activities, boosting tourism development and generating renewed functions with economic and social impact. Inland waters a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fernandes Gonçalo, de Castro Emanuel, Gomes Hugo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2020-12-01
Series:European Countryside
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2020-0029
_version_ 1818754799627141120
author Fernandes Gonçalo
de Castro Emanuel
Gomes Hugo
author_facet Fernandes Gonçalo
de Castro Emanuel
Gomes Hugo
author_sort Fernandes Gonçalo
collection DOAJ
description Rural areas and in particular mountain territories have been experiencing an increasing appreciation of natural and heritage resources and their use for recreational and leisure activities, boosting tourism development and generating renewed functions with economic and social impact. Inland waters are becoming increasingly important for leisure and tourism, with many activities associated and many users seeking for them. Fluvial beaches represent leisure facilities for rural communities, allowing people and visitors access to aquatic spaces for leisure, sport and entertainment, creating conditions for enjoying nature and water resources, particularly during the summer period. The supply of surface water resources – rivers, lakes and canals – in the territory of the Estrela Geopark in Portugal, represent a tourist potential for this mountain region. They qualify the offer and constitute recreational attractions appreciated by the community and tourists, generating social well-being and fostering new services. There is a growing demand for these spaces, allowing the upgrading of fluvial areas, generating new features and enhancing the image of the destination Serra da estrela. The greater part of this equipment is operated by public entities linked to local administration, thus benefiting from public investment and support. There is a strong perception of its importance in attracting tourists, in improving the quality of life of the local population and in the opportunity to expand trade and service activities. Also in the image of the community, and their self-esteem is perceived, the importance of river beaches and consequently the disclosure that they associate, in terms of environmental quality, heritage value, and space of tranquillity.
first_indexed 2024-12-18T05:29:00Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a1e5dba07dca43b8813f723d91004113
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1803-8417
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-18T05:29:00Z
publishDate 2020-12-01
publisher Sciendo
record_format Article
series European Countryside
spelling doaj.art-a1e5dba07dca43b8813f723d910041132022-12-21T21:19:29ZengSciendoEuropean Countryside1803-84172020-12-0112455156710.2478/euco-2020-0029euco-2020-0029Water Resources and Tourism Development in Estrela Geopark Territory: Meaning and Contributions of Fluvial Beaches to Valorise the DestinationFernandes Gonçalo0de Castro Emanuel1Gomes Hugo2Goncąlo Poeta Fernandes, Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, PortugalEmanuel de Castro, Geopark Estrela, Torre da Serra da Estrela, PortugalHugo Gomes, Geopark Estrela, Torre da Serra da Estrela, PortugalRural areas and in particular mountain territories have been experiencing an increasing appreciation of natural and heritage resources and their use for recreational and leisure activities, boosting tourism development and generating renewed functions with economic and social impact. Inland waters are becoming increasingly important for leisure and tourism, with many activities associated and many users seeking for them. Fluvial beaches represent leisure facilities for rural communities, allowing people and visitors access to aquatic spaces for leisure, sport and entertainment, creating conditions for enjoying nature and water resources, particularly during the summer period. The supply of surface water resources – rivers, lakes and canals – in the territory of the Estrela Geopark in Portugal, represent a tourist potential for this mountain region. They qualify the offer and constitute recreational attractions appreciated by the community and tourists, generating social well-being and fostering new services. There is a growing demand for these spaces, allowing the upgrading of fluvial areas, generating new features and enhancing the image of the destination Serra da estrela. The greater part of this equipment is operated by public entities linked to local administration, thus benefiting from public investment and support. There is a strong perception of its importance in attracting tourists, in improving the quality of life of the local population and in the opportunity to expand trade and service activities. Also in the image of the community, and their self-esteem is perceived, the importance of river beaches and consequently the disclosure that they associate, in terms of environmental quality, heritage value, and space of tranquillity.https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2020-0029fluvial beachesinland waterstourismleisuremountainestrela geopark
spellingShingle Fernandes Gonçalo
de Castro Emanuel
Gomes Hugo
Water Resources and Tourism Development in Estrela Geopark Territory: Meaning and Contributions of Fluvial Beaches to Valorise the Destination
European Countryside
fluvial beaches
inland waters
tourism
leisure
mountain
estrela geopark
title Water Resources and Tourism Development in Estrela Geopark Territory: Meaning and Contributions of Fluvial Beaches to Valorise the Destination
title_full Water Resources and Tourism Development in Estrela Geopark Territory: Meaning and Contributions of Fluvial Beaches to Valorise the Destination
title_fullStr Water Resources and Tourism Development in Estrela Geopark Territory: Meaning and Contributions of Fluvial Beaches to Valorise the Destination
title_full_unstemmed Water Resources and Tourism Development in Estrela Geopark Territory: Meaning and Contributions of Fluvial Beaches to Valorise the Destination
title_short Water Resources and Tourism Development in Estrela Geopark Territory: Meaning and Contributions of Fluvial Beaches to Valorise the Destination
title_sort water resources and tourism development in estrela geopark territory meaning and contributions of fluvial beaches to valorise the destination
topic fluvial beaches
inland waters
tourism
leisure
mountain
estrela geopark
url https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2020-0029
work_keys_str_mv AT fernandesgoncalo waterresourcesandtourismdevelopmentinestrelageoparkterritorymeaningandcontributionsoffluvialbeachestovalorisethedestination
AT decastroemanuel waterresourcesandtourismdevelopmentinestrelageoparkterritorymeaningandcontributionsoffluvialbeachestovalorisethedestination
AT gomeshugo waterresourcesandtourismdevelopmentinestrelageoparkterritorymeaningandcontributionsoffluvialbeachestovalorisethedestination