Tourism, a Place-Based Activity

Abstract

The uniqueness of natural and cultural features constitutes a central aspect for a strategy of destination differentiation in contemporary tourism, requiring particular care, planning, and monitoring processes when integrated into products and services. This chapter analyzes the potential contribution of these sensitive resources for local sustainable development processes, along with a discussion on the potential negative impacts exerted by tourism activities. This can be observed for the possible degradation or destruction of natural resources and ecosystems and also when looking at questions related to the uniqueness, authenticity, and evolving character of local cultural heritage, taking into account the different perceptions, backgrounds, and motivations of each individual (resident or tourist), which implies a permanent process of negotiation between different perspectives and eventually conflictual values. In the context of tourism, the importance of interpretation is emphasized, as a tool to ensure the (co-)creation of different types of significant experiences for different types of tourists, stressing the importance of market segmentation processes as a complement to the strategies of territorial differentiation based on local uniqueness. The sensitiveness of these resources and their importance as structural aspects of the daily life of residents and local identities reinforce the importance of community involvement and participatory decision-making mechanisms for the management of natural and cultural resources in tourism activities.