Protected Areas as a Center of Attraction for Visits from World Heritage Cities: Extremadura (Spain)

Abstract

Conservation of the environment has become a key factor in tourist development, as is shown by the increase in visitors to natural parks and other places with rich ecosystems. Protected areas have become polarised centers for tourists of very varied characteriztics, not only for those who make them their main destination, but also for those who travel to nearby areas. This situation can be observed in Extremadura, where numerous tourists make the best use of their stay in the main centers of tourist attractions of the region to make local trips and thus get to know the most significant natural areas. These movements are being detected in varied aspects of demand, sometimes with little connection between the main and secondary motivation for the trip. We therefore consider a variable percentage of tourists visiting the main cultural destinations of Extremadura who use part of their stay to get to know protected areas. With the aim of structuring the research, we made a systematic study of tourists who spent the night in the cities of Cáceres and Mérida, which are World Heritage sites. During their stay, they visited prestigious natural places such as Monfragüe National Park, the Villuercas–Ibores–Jara Geopark, the Tajo Internacional Nature Reserve, and the Garganta de los Infiernos Nature Reserve. This information was obtained by carrying out surveys, which allowed us to determine the attraction capacity of each protected area by applying a network analysis. The results reflect a heterogeneous type of visitor who travels to the most appreciated areas following guidelines marked by the time of the year, his/her preferences, and the duration of his/her trip.

The Cultural Heritage and the Shaping of Tourist Itineraries in Rural Areas: The Case of Historical Ensembles of Extremadura, Spain

“…The sixth and last conclusion that can be drawn is the need to establish as a starting point the design of itineraries to offer competitive products in areas that are not in the best position for tourism due to external determinants such as their location or accessibility [113]. Naturally, the final design of the itinerary and its conversion into a resource needs further study to measure the attraction capacity of the territory using specific assessment techniques for both demand and supply.…”

Destination Brand Experience: A Study Case in Touristic Context of the Peneda-Gerês National Park

“…Protected areas correspond to a significant variety of designations, typologies, geographical environments and management models [62,63] and are increasingly emerging as highly relevant tourist destinations [64,65]. Simultaneously, tourists are looking for personalized activities and experiences of great symbolic value, mostly outdoors, such as hiking, cycling, fauna/flora watching and water activities [66][67][68].…”

Regional Economic Sustainability: Universities’ Role in Their Territories

“…In addition, the region has protected natural areas, such as the Monfragüe Biosphere Reserves, Siberia Extremeña, and Villuercas-Ibores-Jara Geopark. All of the aforementioned cities and natural spaces have been favorably mentioned and granted awards by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization [15].…”