A Methodology for the Identification and Assessment of the Conditions for the Practice of Outdoor and Sport Tourism-Related Activities: The Case of Northern Portugal

Goretti Silva, Alexandra Correia, Susana Rachão, Alcina Nunes, Elvira Vieira, Sónia Santos, Luís Soares, Manuel Fonseca, Fernanda A. Ferreira, Cláudia Miranda Veloso, Paulo Carrança and Paula Odete Fernandes
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Goretti Silva: Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Alexandra Correia: Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Susana Rachão: Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Alcina Nunes: Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, UNIAG, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
Elvira Vieira: Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Sónia Santos: Escola Superior Agrária de Ponte de Lima, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Luís Soares: Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Manuel Fonseca: Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Fernanda A. Ferreira: Polytechnic Institute of Porto, UNIAG, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Cláudia Miranda Veloso: School of Technology and Management (Águeda), University of Aveiro, GOVCOPP, R. Cmte. Pinho e Freitas 5, 3750-127 Águeda, Portugal
Paulo Carrança: Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Paula Odete Fernandes: Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, UNIAG, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-16

Abstract: Tourists’ demand for outdoor sport-related activities has been growing in the last decade, leading to the recognition of the outdoor tourism potential of the development of rural and urban areas where the activities could take place. While the literature has recognized this potential, its features and the existing conditions for its practice are often not fully comprehended, mainly due to the lack of measurement systems and performance indicators. This study addresses this gap by proposing a wide-ranging assessment matrix of nine outdoor-related activities, employing northern Portugal as a study area. Based on an exploratory qualitative analysis employing semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (public, private and third sector), the main contribution of this study lies in the development of the outdoor tourism assessment matrix (OTAM) to collect data. The OTAM matrix aims to identify and assess the conditions, namely the infrastructure and resources, for the practice of outdoor and sport tourism-related activities within the sustainable development pillars. The nine matrices comprising the OTAM allow the identification of the places where the outdoor activities can be practiced, and the conditions under which they can contribute to the definition of the development strategies of outdoor tourism.

Keywords: outdoor sport-related activities; outdoor tourism; assessment matrix; sports tourism; strategic planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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