ELEMENTOS PARA ORIENTAR LA FORMULACIÓN DE UNA POLÍTICA TURÍSTICA SOSTENIBLE EN LOS PARQUES NATURALES ANDALUCES

Abstract

     Nature-based Tourism is intensely growing in Spain, especially in protected natural areas (mainly in natural parks). In fact, according to WTO forecasts, this increase is expected to continue. Nonetheless, environmental institutions in charge of these territories’ management lack active tourism management policies. So, relevant negative impacts over these territories may be triggered in the long run to the detriment of how they are perceived as tourism destinations. Their capability to act as factors for rural regional development may consequently worsened.      Taking into consideration empirical-research results, this paper aims at building a methodology to outline key elements (aims, objectives and strategies) leading to an active sustainable tourism policy-making for protected natural areas. A branch of the economic activity being, tourism policy-making is to guarantee these territories’ capabilities to foster socioeconomic development and environment preservation. The area studied in this work is the natural parks (figure of protection more permissive from the point of view of the development) of Andalusia (that counts with almost the 50 for 100 of the protected surface lower this figure in all Spain).