Tourism in the Naturtejo Geopark, under the Auspices of UNESCO, as Sustainable Alternative to the Mining of Uranium at Nisa (Portugal)

Abstract

Nisa uranium ore, associated with the granite of Nisa-Albuquerque, was discovered in 1957 during prospecting campaigns by Junta de Energia Nuclear. Several fruitless attempts were made to exploit this, the largest uranium ore body ever found in Portugal. Since 2006, the municipality of Nisa has been included within the Southern Meseta Naturtejo Geopark, a member of the Global Geoparks Network developed under UNESCO. Nisa represents a huge potential for innovative geotourism. The wide diversity of tourism resources should be developed to deliver experience-based thematic tourism routes to support the increase in lodging, restaurants and active tourism enterprises in the region.