What is it about?
Given the influence wildfires can exert on tourist activity, the motivation for this study is to provide more knowledge of regions most susceptible to fires in the Baixo Alentejo region, southern Portugal. A questionnaire survey was distributed among 35 entities with activities in tourism, hunting, and agriculture, as well as among members of the Vale do Guadiana Natural Park (PNVG) aiming to assess their fire risk perception in the region.
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Why is it important?
This study showed the degree of importance that the tourism sector should give to the impacts caused by fires. The impact of climate change favoring fires was recognized by the entities, as well as the fact that the loss of biodiversity due to fires may have a direct impact on the attractiveness of this tourist destination, indicating the importance of environmental conservation strategies for the region.
Perspectives
Portugal is a country that has suffered from wildfires, with some of them directly or indirectly affecting the tourism sector. The study assessed the fire risk perception by entities that operate in the PNVG. Biodiversity was indicated as the main domain negatively affected by fires and the main factor impacting the tourist attractiveness of the region.
Dr Flavio T. Couto
Instituto de Ciências da Terra, Universidade de Évora
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Assessing Fire Risk Perception in the Vale do Guadiana Natural Park, Portugal, Fire, June 2023, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/fire6060243.
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