Tourism Through the Gaze of Stakeholders: the Case of Óbidos Lagoon in Portugal

Abstract

Coastal lagoons are valued and sensitive ecosystems often threatened by human pressure. In our study we focused on the development of local activities in the Óbidos lagoon and we aimed to understand the stakeholders' view about the best solutions for local development. Stakeholders were divided into residents, tourists, groups of interest and surveys and interviews were applied. The results indicated that although the lagoon is considered a dynamic economical resource for the local economy communities, tourism was identified by all stakeholders as the strategic tool for development in the lagoon. These results suggest the urgency to promote sustainable guidelines for the local tourism development.

Is the Plant Bolboschoenus maritimus an Adequate Biomonitor for Trace Metal Contamination in Saltmarshes? A Field Study from the Óbidos Lagoon (Portugal)

“…In coastal lagoons in North Africa, the main economic sectors include fishing, shellfish harvesting, salt and sand extraction, and maritime transport [15,16]. On the American Continent nurseries, coastal protection and carbon storage are important, namely for tourism and for the energy sector [17]. Therefore, the potential and sensitivities of coastal lagoons should be acknowledged, and it is vital to monitor these ecosystems.…”

Assessing the Hydrodynamic Response of the Mar Menor Lagoon to Dredging Inlets Interventions through Numerical Modelling

“…Coastal lagoons are areas of ecological and economic importance with a high spatial and temporal variability, which makes them complex systems of high productivity in most cases [1,2]. Their economic importance, not only depends on the existence of fisheries and related activities [3], but also the various tourism and recreational activities that have appeared over recent years, increasing the stress on the existing ecosystems [4][5][6][7]. Pumping and dredging activities related to coastal works devoted to increase tourist facilities in lagoons can have negative consequences on water and sediment quality, and therefore on biological assemblages, and eventhough these were intended to be improved for tourist appeal [8].…”