Methodological Reflection on Sustainable Tourism in Protected Natural Areas

Boris Miguel López-Vera and Norberto Pelegrín-Entenza ()
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Boris Miguel López-Vera: Doctoral Programme in Tourism, University of Alicante, San Vicente de Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Norberto Pelegrín-Entenza: Doctoral Programme in Tourism, University of Alicante, San Vicente de Raspeig, 03690 Alicante, Spain

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-33

Abstract: The objective is to present the theoretical contributions offered by the methodology for studying sustainable tourism in protected natural areas, capable of promoting environmental protection and sustainable local development in communities. This research was carried out in Machalilla National Park. The deductive method was applied, which allowed for the analysis of the problem, the consultation of general theories related to the topic studied, and the establishment of premises and objectives that led to conclusions on the topic studied. A mixed research approach was used, integrating contributions from the analyses carried out for the treatment and processing of information. The techniques used included a survey of tourism stakeholders, a semantic differential for tourists, and an expert evaluation method to validate the proposal under study. The theoretical and methodological systematisation of tourism sustainability in protected natural areas was achieved. The results show the need to broaden the scientific debate and transfer knowledge on the relevance of sustainable tourism as an alternative for sustainable development in rural communities.

Keywords: tourism; sustainable development; responsible tourism; sustainable tourism practices; sustainable development goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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