Linking Sustainable Tourism and Electric Mobility – Moveletur

Abstract

This paper approaches the permanent struggle that less favoured regions must deal with regarding economic opportunities, job creation, income and regional production increase. Since an increased demand for nature and protected areas is taking place in a more and more urban society, some innovation potential is emerging. The study we have developed is focused on sustainable tourism practices in a specific natural area (Malcata Mountain Reserve), using electric mobility, which is known for its zero emission, no polluting and noise-free travelling. The broader study is carried out under the Interreg Funding Program in the Moveletur Project. Our aims are to promote a model of sustainable and clean tourism for visitors of natural areas, to create a network of green tourism itineraries connecting sites of natural and/or cultural value using electric vehicles and to empower tourism sector entrepreneurs with a new added-value service for their activity. Joint work with other natural areas is required to increase results. After the project is finished (by the end of 2018) there will be an improved knowledge about natural and cultural values that natural areas hold and that can be used for visitors’ enjoyment. There will be a more respectful way of ‘doing tourism’ in natural areas and hopefully it will address employment creation and improved territorial competitiveness. Finally, tourism experiences will have more quality and the project will promote smart villages’ further development by using technological components.