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Abstract(s)
As a growing sector, tourism has become a significant contributor to the global economy and has the
potential to promote economic growth and development in many regions. Nature sports tourism can be an
important aspect of tourism and can have significant economic, social, and cultural impacts on the host
communities. Nature sports activities and events are usually integral to tourism market planning. Hosting
sporting events has become a key strategy for destinations to gain recognition and is often included in
their event portfolios for annual tourism planning. Using events to mitigate seasonality and diversify
tourist flows is a common objective, as it can contribute to the local visitor economy and enhance the
overall viability of the destination. As the popularity of outdoor events continues to grow, it is important
to understand the environmental consequences of outdoor events and to implement sustainable practices. Addressing environmental sustainability is, therefore, a crucial aspect of nature sports tourism planning. This chapter focuses on a particular nature sport—orienteering. The most important factor for selecting areas for orienteering is the difficulty of a challenging terrain that enables a good course setting. Finding a suitable area for foot orienteering involves multiple criteria. The main features that provide the athlete greater opportunities for testing navigation skills are, among others, a detailed representation of the terrain, containing rich landforms, and its cover, since foot orienteering is a sport organized in forests or natural areas. Based on these principles, this study aims to assess the suitability of the Tejo/Tajo International Transboundary Biosphere Reserve for practicing Foot Orienteering. The suitable areas and their constraints were identified based on integrating a set of criteria using multicriteria spatial analysis tools in a GIS environment. For this purpose, the following descriptors were integrated: land cover, slope, slope variation, Topographic position index (TPI), and aspect variation. The criteria were classified into four suitability levels and calculated using the Hierarchical Analytical Process. The impact
of orienteering activities on the natural values existing in the Tagus/Tajo International Transboundary
Biosphere Reserve was also assessed, with particular emphasis on the impact on vegetation and wildlife
Description
Keywords
Orienteering Suitability Adventure sport
Citation
QUINTA-NOVA, L.C. (2024) - Spatial planning of nature sports in cross-border regions with a focus on orienteering. In CASTANHO, R. ; FRANCO, M. (Eds.) - Cultural, gastronomy, and adventure tourism development. IGI Global. p. 237-250. DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-3158-3
Publisher
IGI Global