Tourism Sustainable Planning in Low Density Territories and the Post (Disaster) Pandemic Context

Abstract

The evolution of tourism must be framed into policies that aim a development model perspective for the destinations, based on the analysis of economic, political, and social indicators. Therefore, emerging destinations, located in territories with low population density, should be a target of a careful strategy policy, considering the characteristics of the region. In particular, the disaster caused by the pandemic context (i.e., COVID-19) implied profound changes in tourism thinking, planning, and development of regions in Portugal and throughout the world. The present chapter proposes the creation of a tourism monitoring system for Arouca (Portugal), a territory classified as Low-Density Territory, with specific characteristics. The monitoring will involve the planning and management of database, at the disposal of all stakeholders, ensuring that the tourism flows in analysis do not get overwhelmed, allowing the discussion of opportunities and threats for the territory, based on the partnership between the population, public and private sector, adjusted to the social, cultural, economic, and environment perception. Will also be considered the perspective of the local community from Arouca's region, the main actors from the territory such as Geopark Association of Arouca and the City Council, according to the surveys used as data basis of this study, along with statistics analysis.

Citation

Liberato, P., Sousa, B.B., Costa, M. and Liberato, D. (2023), "Tourism Sustainable Planning in Low Density Territories and the Post (Disaster) Pandemic Context", Kumar, J., Bayram, G.E. and Sharma, A. (Ed.) Resilient and Sustainable Destinations After Disaster (Tourism Security-Safety and Post Conflict Destinations), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 41-62. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-021-720231004