BIBLIOS

Document type
Conference papers

Document subtype
Abstract

Title
Activating an Artisanal Saltpan: Tourists Crowding in or Waterbirds Crowding Out?

Participants in the publication
Ramos, J. (Author)
UNIVERSIDADE DO ALGARVE
Pinto, P. (Author)
UNIVERSIDADE DO ALGARVE
Pintassilgo, P. (Author)
UNIVERSIDADE DO ALGARVE
Resende, A. (Author)
Cancela da Fonseca, L. (Author)
CTA - Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias da Água, Universidade do Algarve
MARE

Summary
It has been found that in the Algarve (southern Portugal) there is an increasing interest for visiting protected areas. Not only ecotourists, but also generalist tourists seek to be in close contact with nature activities. Thus, protected areas are quite sensitive to human pressure and are limited to sustain just a certain carrying capacity. The purpose of the present case study is to find out which features attract generalist tourists who visit saltpans in southeast Portugal via a pedestrian tour and what sort of pressure they inflict on waterbirds behavior. The tour consists in a predefined path where outdoor boards are placed, and the guides ease the process by providing explanations to visitors. The objective of this study is threefold in order to find out if: 1) waterbirds are disturbed by the presence of tourists, 2) tourists prefer to visit saltpans instead of watch waterbirds, and 3) tourists have preferred waterbird species.\\\\nIn the methodology two research instruments/methods are used. The first method consists in waterbird species identification and counting through direct observation with binoculars around the saltpan area. There are pre- defined observational schedules (days, hours, pre- and post-tourist visits), in order to find out if the presence of additional human pressure (tourist visits) contributes to disturb waterbirds (causing waterfowl to fly elsewhere). The second method comprises a short questionnaire delivered to generalist tourists after visiting the saltpan, where it is intended to collect information in order to characterize visitors and perceive their interests when visiting saltpans. Based on data obtained by both methods, the three hypotheses stated in the objective were tested. Chi-squared test results show that waterbirds occurrence varies according to the presence or absence of tourist visits (i.e., waterbirds show different distributions). Consequently, this result emphasizes that if a reasonable distance is safeguarded and visitors are allocated into groups of few people in a pre-defined path, it enables to visit the saltpan whereabouts keeping disturbance of waterbirds to a minimum.\\\\nWilcoxon test shows that tourists prefer to visit saltpans rather than to watch waterbirds. This result implies that some valorization is given to the salt production activity if carried out in a traditional form but keeping in mind that salt workers should not be disturbed.\\\\nPaired comparisons (Wilcoxon test) show that around saltpans generalist tourists have some waterbird species preference. This preference may add value to activities to be further developed in a salt pan setting.\\\\nThe value of present research can be demonstrated by highlighting the interconnection between traditional salt production – waterfowl habitat – visitors’ interest and interaction. The presence throughout the year of permanent water ponds needed for saltpans’ management activities brings higher foraging opportunities to certain waterbird species. The reduction of salt-works machinery increases symbiotic relationships between the salt production activity and waterbirds. Visitors once attracted to visit traditional salt production activities while being in contact with nature (namely with high chances to find waterfowl), attach greater value to both.\\\\n

Editor(s)
Jafar Jafari, Patricia Pinto, Manuela Guerreiro, Se?rgio Santos, Cla?udia Henriques, Jose? Santos


Institution
UNIVERSIDADE DO ALGARVE

Event
t-Forum 2020 Global Conference Breaking Old Barriers for a New World - Mobilizing Tourism Intelligence to Survive - BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

Publication Identifiers
ISBN - 9789899023383

Address
Faro, Portugal

Organizers
CinTurs – Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, University of Algarve

Publisher
CinTurs – Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, University of Algarve


Awards
SUNx Best Paper Award at the t-Forum 2020 Global Conference

Keywords
Ria Formosa Natural Park Saltpan Salt Production Salt Tourism Waterbird Watching

Notes
Anabela Resende: ICNF IP Representative, RNSCMVRSA – Reserva Natural do Sapal de Castro Marim e Vila Real de Santo Antonio