Eco Certification. A Tool to establish Surf Tourism with lower Environmental Impact?

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Abstract
• Deutsche Zusammenfassung
• Introduction
• Theoretical Background
• Surfing and Surf Tourism - A Rising Sector
• Surf Tourism in Portugal
• Sustainability in Tourism
• The Role of Certification in Sustainable Tourism
• Methodology
• Research Design
• The Study Area
• Data Collection
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Participant Observation
• Data Analysis
• Results
• Demographic Data
• Surf Related Issues
• Environmental Awareness of Surf Tourists
• Attitudes towards Eco Certification in Surf Tourism
• Surf Camp Owners Perspective
• Surf Tourists Perspective
• Discussion
• Awareness of Environmental Issues
• Influence of Awareness on Destination Choice
• Willingness to Pay for Eco Certified Surf Camps
• Conclusions
• Limitations of the Study
• Recommendations
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This study examines the potential of eco-certification as a tool to promote sustainable surf tourism practices in the Algarve region of Portugal. The study aims to assess the environmental awareness of surf tourists, determine if this awareness influences their choice of destinations and providers, and investigate their willingness to pay more for eco-certified surf camps.

• Environmental impacts of surf tourism
• The role of eco-certification in promoting sustainable tourism
• Environmental awareness among surf tourists
• Factors influencing the choice of surf camps and destinations
• The willingness to pay for eco-friendly surf tourism services

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

• Introduction: This chapter provides a background on the study's topic, outlining the importance of sustainable surf tourism and the growing demand for eco-friendly travel experiences. It also introduces the research questions and the study's objectives.
• Theoretical Background: This chapter presents a review of relevant literature on surfing, surf tourism, sustainability in tourism, and the role of certification in promoting sustainable practices. It explores the various environmental and social impacts of surf tourism and discusses different approaches to fostering sustainable tourism development.
• Methodology: This chapter details the research design, study area, and data collection methods used for the study. It describes the questionnaires, interviews, and participant observations employed to gather data on surf tourists and surf camp operators' environmental awareness and attitudes towards sustainable surf tourism.
• Results: This chapter presents the findings of the data analysis, covering the demographic profiles of surf tourists, their awareness of environmental issues related to surf tourism, and their preferences regarding eco-certified surf camps. It also examines the perspectives of surf camp owners on eco-certification and sustainability practices.
• Discussion: This chapter analyzes the results and discusses their implications for promoting sustainable surf tourism practices. It explores the factors influencing surf tourists' awareness, destination choices, and willingness to pay for eco-friendly services, and suggests potential strategies for encouraging more sustainable surf tourism development.

Schlüsselwörter

Surf tourism, eco-certification, sustainability, environmental awareness, Algarve, Portugal, surf camp, sustainable tourism management, environmental impacts.