Tourism in Protected Areas

an analysis of the profile of tourist in the Peneda- Gerês National Park (Portugal)

Abstract

The knowledge about the tourists' profile is essential for the management entities of tourism destinations and operators to define, implement and monitor appropriate strategies to attract new visitors, build tourist loyalty and constantly reinvent the offer according to the characteristics of the market component associated with demand. This is the justification for this research, focused on the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PGNP) and supported by questionnaire surveys of visitors who used accommodation units in the pre-pandemic period, between June and October 2016. A social, economic and professional characterization of the tourists is presented, as well as the results inherent to their motivations and expectations in relation to this consecrated tourist destination of Portugal, with special focus on the segments of nature and cultural and landscape touring. The main conclusions of the research configure information of the greatest relevance not only for the local agents of the tourist activity but also for the entities with responsibility in the planning and management of regional and national tourism.