Purpose:The main objective of the analysis was to investigate the attitudes of the local community towards tourists and tourism in Madeira, and their opinions on sustainability, smart city concept and the impact of tourism on the island. The survey also explored the expectations of both groups towards further development of tourism on the island and sought suggestions for solutions and opportunities for sustainable tourism development. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research presented in this paper was conducted in April 2021. It was addressed to both permanent residents of Madeira and tourists visiting the island. A total of 391 people participated in the survey (diagnostic survey, questionnaire). Based on the collected opinions, the preferences observed in the surveyed groups were analyzed and an extensive list of recommendations was proposed. These recommendations have broad implementation potential, both in relation to Madeira and other tourist locations with similar social, economic, and environmental conditions. Findings: The catalogue of problem areas is very extensive and includes phenomena of various character and intensity. The concept of sustainable tourism, which is the key reference point for the presented research, can be perceived as a certain ideal, being a source of inspiration and a tool for searching for optimal (taking into consideration interests of various groups) development paths for a given area. Practical implications: Based on the collected data, the preferences observed among the respondents were analyzed and an extensive list of recommendations was proposed. These recommendations have broad implementation potential, both in relation to Madeira and other tourist locations with similar social, economic, and environmental conditions.
Przedstawione w artykule rozważania ogniskują się wokół zagadnień związanych z implementacją założeń koncepcji rozwoju zrównoważonego w odniesieniu do obszarów przyrodniczo cennych, pełniących funkcje turystyczne. W kręgu zainteresowań badawczych znalazły się dwa kraje: Finlandia oraz Stany Zjednoczone Ameryki Północnej. Ze względu na dużą różnorodność wynikającą zarówno z uwarunkowań przyrodniczych, geograficznych, przestrzennych jak i organizacyjnych czy politycznych – prezentowany katalog rozwiązań praktycznych zawiera obszerny zestaw inicjatyw, które realizują w praktyce założenia rozwoju zrównoważonego. Wśród nich wymienić można zarówno działania wynikające z realizacji ogólnonarodowych projektów jak i inicjatywy realizowane na poziomie stowarzyszeń lokalnych. Prezentowane rozwiązania uwidaczniają, że założenia rozwoju zrównoważonego stanowią źródło cennych inspiracji dla działań praktycznych, a sama koncepcja nie ogranicza się jedynie do warstwy dyskursywnej i teoretycznej.
Overtourism refers not only to situations in which carrying capacity levels have been exceeded, but also to those in which tourists and residents share negative feelings of discomfort and other emotions, loss of quality of life and unpleasant experiences in their activities of daily life. The growing number of places struggling with the problem of overtourism suggests that brand new approaches are required to minimize the effects of excessive tourism. However, the impacts of overtourism are place-specific and a one-size-fits-all approach is inappropriate. Many destinations still have a considerable margin to manoeuvre but are nonetheless heading towards increasingly unsustainable levels of tourists per square kilometer. Such regions have time to take some pre-emptive measures based on principles of sustainable development using greener and energy-saving technologies. Over the past few decades, degrowth has arisen as an unorthodox approach based on principles of fairness and social and environmental justice. In certain areas, such as island economies, the economic dynamics remain largely dependent on the tourism sector, which forces the local actors to think and act differently. In this study, we analyze the strategies employed by Madeira to counter the negative effects of oversaturation in a pre-emptive way. The findings of this case study, based on the data at the county level, are enhanced by a panel data analysis of a number of relevant explanatory variables explaining the dispersion of tourists to the rural hinterland. The results suggest that the development of the rural hinterland has proven capable of exerting a progressively positive influence well beyond the borders of the rural hinterland by accommodating a growing share of the increasing numbers of tourists welcomed in the region in the 2002–2019 period, at the expense of the main capital city. This study confirms the importance and potential of the development of the rural hinterland to tackle overtourism in the main tourism areas. In terms of recommendations, it is suggested that local operators and policy-makers must develop efforts to research new ways to adopt energy-saving projects and develop tourisms products that incorporate eco-friendly behaviors.
Purpose:The main objective of the article was to analyze the conditions and factors that determine the tourist development of Madera Island in relation to the assumptions of the sustainable development concept and the smart city concept. Moreover, the conducted own research made it possible to identify key problem areas related to the development of tourism in the discussed area, formulated by representatives of the local community and tourists. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research presented in this paper was conducted in April 2021. It was addressed to both permanent residents of Madeira and tourists visiting the island. A total of 391 people participated in the survey (diagnostic survey, questionnaire). Based on the collected opinions, the preferences observed in the surveyed groups were analyzed and an extensive list of recommendations was proposed. These recommendations have broad implementation potential, both in relation to Madeira and other tourist locations with similar social, economic, and environmental conditions. Findings: Areas of strong tourist reception are usually a common ground for actions of various institutions, environments, and people representing different and sometimes conflicting interests. The Portuguese Island of Madeira described in the paper is a perfect example: in a relatively small area, one can find both areas that require protection due to the valuable natural and cultural assets, areas of agricultural and industrial character (on a small scale), and places with strongly developed tourism and tourism-related infrastructure. Ongoing discussions on the future of Madeira indicate that the economy based on sustainable tourism and smart city concept will play a key role. Own research made visible that the catalogue of problem areas is very extensive and includes phenomena of various character and intensity. The concepts of sustainable tourism and smart city, which are the key reference point for the presented research, can be perceived as a certain ideal, being a source of inspiration and a tool for searching for optimal (taking into consideration interests of various groups) development paths for a given area. Practical Implications: Based on the collected data, the preferences observed among the respondents were analyzed and an extensive list of recommendations was proposed. These
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