Mass Tourism Research Articles

Heritage Sites, Devotion, and Quality Enhancement in Tourism: The Promotion and Management of Ancient Marian Places of Worship along the Appian Way in Puglia and Basilicata

Religious tourism is a significant and growing field of tourism that overlaps with cultural tourism. It has the potential to improve the quality of life of those who live in places of faith or along routes of spiritual interest. Religious tourism involves a complex interplay of spiritual and economic motivations. Effective religious tourism management requires respect for spiritual values, partnerships, local engagement, and quality assessment. Devotional practices have evolved from medieval spiritual care to communal expressions and periodic rituals. This paper specifically analysed the characteristics of the Marian cult and pilgrimage flows to places of Marian faith. It examined their value potential from a religious and cultural perspective and their role as a particular attractor of experiential and quality tourism generated by the territorial context. The area of reference is the region of Puglia, which has often played the role of cultural bridge with the eastern coasts of the Mediterranean in the past. The second part of the paper focuses on the proposed itinerary along the Appian Way in its final route between Puglia and Basilicata. Marian shrines were sometimes the cause and sometimes the evidence of the cultural and economic poles that characterised the medieval and modern variants of this ancient road route. The study outlines a serial path that integrates the usual settlement or infrastructural levels of territorial knowledge with the Marian theme, which was analysed diachronically. An operational track in the contemporary territorial dimension emerged from the correlation of both the stratigraphic reading of the landscape and the interpretation of material and immaterial cultural heritage. This track aims to aggregate and promote the sustainable rediscovery of those places, which are largely cut off from the routes of mass tourism, in adherence to the most recent European and local cultural and landscape guidelines.

Towards a nature-culture relationship in historic centres. Evidence of public spaces beyond tourism in Florence (Italy)

Historic centres globally are facing issues they have never encountered before, such as climate change and, for some, mass tourism. Over time, the relationship between nature and culture is one of conflict, with nature seen as a threat to the conservation of tangible heritage; at the same time, tourism has upset the reality of historic centres, compromising their fruition for both residents and tourists. In this context of great changes, the public space role of historic centres has been overturned. These public spaces, conceived as a set of elements that make up the urban scene and represent the identity of a community, have already changed significantly; on the one hand, they must respond to the needs of users who are mainly tourists and who arrive in larger numbers than originally envisaged, while on the other hand, they are experiencing the effects of climate change, with rising temperatures, heat islands, variations in the distribution and consistency of rainfall, and other site-specific issues. Historic centres and culture can contribute to sustainable development goals, and conservation plays an important role in creating projects in synergistic relationships with the natural environment. Following an overview of the themes and current literature on tourism in historic centres and on experiences with nature-based solutions applied to conservation, this paper reports two positive instances of conservation and the regeneration of public space in the UNESCO Historic Centre of Florence, which were aimed at responding to the critical issues of the area and to enhancing its historic urban landscape.

Present Climate Change as a Threat to Geoheritage: The Wildfire in Bohemian Switzerland National Park and Its Use in Place-Based Learning

Bohemian Switzerland is a national park in Northern Czechia famous for its sandstone rocks, which were affected by a massive fire in 2022. Specific geomorphology of the region affected the spreading of the fire and complicated its extinguishing. The fire directly or indirectly damaged several geosites in Bohemian Switzerland. The catastrophe brought a possibility of showing the unique connection between geoheritage and present climate change and increasing awareness about the problems. The text is focused on field education of geography, striving to strengthen environmental awareness among students through educating their teachers. The research is based on desk research, field observation and didactic principles application. The causes of the fire were complex, including physical geographical (drought and bark beetle calamity within climate change) and human geographical phenomena (mass tourism and tourist misbehavior, inappropriate forestry practices). The teachers we worked with reached similar conclusions at the end of our course. Our fieldwork educational concept proved viable and was appreciated by them mainly thanks to the incorporation of research-based learning and the absence of unnatural emphasis on climate change. Climate change is a politicized topic, bringing controversies to the classrooms in the peripheral region. The approach we proposed is anchored in inquiry-based methods and touches on the issue indirectly.

The intersection of landscape values for tourists and residents in a mining heritage destination: a case study of Jiufen in Taiwan

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to explore the competing claims of two tourism stakeholders, local residents and tourists, for the best possible interpretation of the cultural landscape of Jiufen, a mining heritage destination in Taiwan, using the social representation theory. The study uses the conceptual tool of social landscape connectivity to examine the linkages among various levels of access to cultural landscapes for residents and tourists in its current state of tourism development. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 local residents and 16 tourists using purposive and snowball sampling. Results indicated that representations of cultural landscape consist of four interconnected themes: memory linking the past to the present, collective identity, belongingness, and mass tourism destinations. However, opinions regarding precisely what representations comprised the best possible cultural landscapes for tourism were inconsistent. The ramifications of value co-creation in a mining heritage destination’s sustainable development are discussed.

Spatial distribution of sand dunes along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast: inventory, UAS mapping and new discoveries

Coastal sand dunes are amongst the world’s most sensitive and dynamic landforms. Unfortunately, during the last thirty years, heavy anthropogenic alterations have been observed, encompassing the greater part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast (BBSC), which has changed the land-sea interactions significantly. As a consequence, the depositional coast has shrunk to 131 km or 25% of the aggregate Bulgarian Black Sea shoreline length. Although our research reveals that 86% of BBSC dunes are included in the Natura 2000 network of protected sites established under the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC 1992), they are often heavily modified, subjected to environmental vandalism and destroyed due to mismanagement or lack of accurate information and prevention. These facts were the main reason for carrying out an inventory of the Bulgarian Black Sea coastal dune systems in 2021-2022. Our research aimed to identify all dune systems/sand dunes, update their spatial distribution and classify the observed coastal sand dunes landforms along the BBSC. The article demonstrates a successful methodology for combining unmanned aerial systems (UAS), Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry, in situ sediment sampling, video imaging and verification and GNSS-RTK ground control points for coastal mapping. As of June 2022, over 97% of the Bulgarian shoreline has been surveyed with this technique, excluding military areas and national security sites. Based on the acquired data, as of 2021, the shoreline length was estimated to be 518.7 km at a scale 1:5000. The integrated UAS approach includes using Digital surface models (DSM), raster orthophotomosaics (OM) and 3D models, based on SfM photogrammetry to analyse the coastal topography, detect dune forms and update their spatial distribution. Throughout the inventory, 46 beach-dune systems were identified along the BBSC, which were divided into 62 dune sectors. The area of coastal dune systems was estimated at 988.21 ha (0.0089% of Bulgaria) and a total length of 73 km (14% of the shoreline). A comprehensive geomorphological analysis of the relationships between landforms morphology, aeolian and morphodynamic processes, vegetation density and type was the basis for the coastal dune landforms (CDLs) or dune systems to be classified into primary (312 ha; 32%) and secondary (676 ha; 68%). Additionally, the CDLs were classified according to Natura 2000 habitats: fixed (grey) dunes (546.27 ha; 55.28%), wooded dunes (222.61 ha; 22.53%), shifting (white) dunes (150.30 ha; 15.21%), embryonic dunes (68.3 ha; 6.91%) and humid dune slacks (0.94 ha; 0.09%). The highest positioned CDLs on the Balkan Peninsula were registered at perched Sozopol Sand Dunes (61 m a.s.l.) and cliff-top dunes at Arkutino (50.2 m a.s.l.). The multi-temporal analysis of photogrammetric DSMs and raster OMs showed the permanent loss of five dune systems in the Pomorie-Burgas-Rosenets coastal sector. The accrued UAS data approach allowed us to identify and map eight dune systems for the first time: Zlatni Pyasatsi (Panorama), Asparuhovo (Varna), Byala, Atanasovska Kosa, Central Beach (Burgas), Chernomorets, Kavatsite (partly) and Rezovo-Kastrich. A high anthropogenic footprint was registered on 50.7 ha (5.1%) of the entire dune surface. In the final stage of the study, human interventions that caused degradation and permanent loss of dunes (12 ha) over the last 15 years along the BBSC were shown. The main causes for dune degradation along BBSC have been documented, such as massive tourism development after the socialist period, road construction, recreational pressure exerted on the dunes, human trampling, lack of designated footpaths in areas with fixed and mobile dunes, off-road vehicles and parking lots (especially at camping sites), dumping of garbage and anthropogenic marine litter on the sand dunes etc.

Development of inbound extreme tourism from Southeast Asian countries in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

Forms of tourism associated with risk and danger are now dynamically developing cultural industries all over the world. The article is devoted to the development of tourism in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), first of all, to the problems of attracting foreign fans of extreme and adventure tourism, mainly from Southeast Asian countries. As drivers of the tourist flow, it is proposed to pay attention to tourists from the People's Republic of China. In order to implement a competent marketing policy to attract Chinese tourists, it is proposed to take into account the peculiarities of traditional and modern spiritual culture of China in the aspect of tourist motivation. To attract tourists from China, it is considered necessary to develop and offer short-term winter tours with extreme elements in central Yakutia. To study the tourist value and semantic orientations of tourists from Southeast Asia, using the example of Chinese citizens, the works of Chinese researchers in English were used. The author believes that in order to offer a competitive product in the market of extreme tourism, it is necessary to take into account the influence of cultural values and traditions on motivational attitudes, basic requirements and expectations from extreme tours, depending on region or country. Due to the change in the foreign policy situation in the 20s of the XXI century, as well as the increased flow of Chinese tourists on the international market, the policy of attracting tourists from Southeast Asia is becoming the main and decisive for the development of international tourism in the republic. For the development of mass tourism with extreme elements, it is proposed to use the tourist resources of central Yakutia, where winter, short-term tours can be offered that can meet the needs of foreign, primarily Chinese tourists.

Regulation and Governance of Overtourism

The post-pandemic recovery of the travel and tourism industry has continued into 2023. Overtourism is a factor limiting the development of famous and successful destinations and causing negative attitudes toward tourism among the local population. Effective regulation and management of overtourism involve proactive planning, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of sustainable tourism practices. Recently destinations have implemented strict rules for visitors to preserve their environment, resources, cultural heritage, and traditions. The article reveals how famous destinations and European cities deal with the challenges of overtourism. The author examines some ‘good practices’ and measures taken by stakeholders in handling mass tourism.

Perception of the Local Population on the Effects of Tourism: A Case Study of the City of Šibenik

Abstract Tourism represents an important determinant of global recognition and regional growth and development of the Republic of Croatia, especially the coastal part of the country. However, there is no doubt that any tourism activity has strong economic, socio-cultural, social, and environmental effects. Mass tourism brings numerous advantages. However, the growing concentration of tourists also leads to negative effects, of which residents are the most affected. Šibenik is a tourist town whose development is primarily based on tourism, and this destination, due to its centuries-old history and geographic location, is attractive to tourists. This paper aims to investigate the extent to which tourism affects the quality of life of the local population based on a preliminary survey of a sample of residents of the city of Šibenik. This paper aims to investigate in detail the practical aspects of tourism. The respondents’ perceptions and tourism’s real, tangible, and measurable effects will be analyzed to draw valuable conclusions. This approach enables a deeper understanding of the impact of tourism on various aspects of society and the environment.

관광에서의 진정성 연구에 기여한 주요 학자들

The concept of authenticity has played a crucial and unique role in the history of tourism studies, resulting in theoretical advancements through vigorous debates. Focusing on the fundamental mechanism of tourism, the normative characteristics of the authenticity concept have facilitated diverse academic perspectives and traditions to interact with one another. The current study aims to introduce four prominent scholars who significantly influenced the authenticity discussion in tourism studies and their conceptualization of authenticity. Daniel Boorstin pointed out mass tourism as a symbolic phenomenon of American society, which is full of fakes that seem to be real, and asserted that tourists only seek pleasure without interest in authenticity. Dean McCannell argued that tourists pursue authenticity, which is believed to exist behind commercialized tourist attractions, by using the concept of ‘staged authenticity’. Erik Cohen suggested that each tourist pursues authenticity to various degrees and that authenticity is not a fixed value but a negotiable value that continuously changes. Ning Wang proposed the concept of existential authenticity, arguing that the concept of authenticity can be applied to the subjective experiences of tourists. Each scholar's concept of authenticity reflects not only the scholar's view on tourism but also his/her academic trajectory, worldview, and historical context. This study provides an opportunity to reflect on how humans have established the normative value of ‘real’ in the behavioral context of tourism amid the progress of human civilization.

Effects of Cultural Stereotype on Inter-cultural Relations from The English Teaching Perspective

Cultural differences widely existed are often simply standardized into preconceived ideas and images, leading to stereotype on different ethnic groups. Such fixed conceptions could have real consequence on the human behaviour and its evalution. This paper intends to explore the effects of these mindsets of different cultures in several aspects. The overall negative impacts caused by stereotype have been demonstrated for an array of social groups in terms of internaltinal students’ academic performance, global trade and mass tourism. This essay has examined the decreasing efficiency of students, employees and visitors abroad have resulted from the prejudice even without conscious awareness.

Unveiling the Socio-Economic Fragility of a Major Urban Touristic Destination through Open Data and Airbnb Data: The Case Study of Bologna, Italy

In the last decades, tourism in urban areas has been constantly increasing. The need for short-term accommodations has been coupled with the emergence of internet-based services, which makes it easier to match demand (i.e., tourists) and supply (i.e., housing). As a new mass tourist destination, Bologna, Italy, has been experiencing tensions between tourists and long-, mid-, or short-term renters. The possibility of easy profits for lessees has led to an increase in such housing, which can be rented out either for touristic reasons or not. This paper aims to unveil the contribution of short-term rental accommodations in distorting the real estate market and conditioning social and economic inequalities. To do this, multiple linear regression analyses (MLR) were performed between accommodation density, real estate market information, and indicators about social, economic, and demographic vulnerability and fragility. Analyses were based on official open data and datasets from a major web-based hospitality exchange platform, i.e., Airbnb, able to provide information on registered accommodations, e.g., type, characteristics (e.g., number of bedrooms and average rating), and location. Outputs of the analyses reveal the role of Airbnb in both rental market and social, economic, and demographic vulnerability and fragility and, hence, can be a solid tool for public policies, both housing- and tourism-related.

Fakturen eines Faszinosums: ‚Italien‘ als multimedialer Assoziationsgegenstand

Abstract From the postwar period onwards, media pluralisation, mass tourism and internationalisation have not only led to an increase in the marketing of Italy as a historical place of longing, but they also enhanced the auditory and visual construction of ‚Italy‘ as an object with numerous associations in everyday culture. This essay offers some preliminary thoughts on a series of case-studies that examine the multimedia imagining of ‚Italy‘ from the mid-20th century. The aim is to better understand the construction of the powerful myth of Italy in modernity, as well as the frequently associated phenomenon of internationally disseminated clichés with national connotations.

Social media as a contributor to conflicts in protected areas: experiences, problems, and potential solutions

Within two decades, social media has profoundly changed modern society. The various effects of this rapid development are increasingly the subject of interdisciplinary research. For protected areas, the focus has so far been on the possibilities of social media as a means of visitor communication and monitoring. This is an exploratory study identifying case studies of protected areas where visitors’ use of social media has contributed to negative environmental effects. Furthermore, potential measures to address these challenges are provided. Data collection was conducted with a selective review of academic and non-academic literature using a global research framework and EU-wide qualitative email interviews with staff from 44 national parks. The research results were structured using the DPSIR framework of the European Environment Agency. Social media trend-driven mass tourism and dissemination of nature-damaging behaviour via social media appear to be the most pressing issues. To implement conservation measures successfully and ensure long-term conservation goals, protected area management must consider the potential negative effects of social media. As digitisation progresses, the urgency of corresponding studies and measures increases. The enhancement of digital skills and digital visitor guidance by nature conservation actors may help to counteract future negative environmental effects.

Sensory experiences in heritage contexts: A qualitative approach

This study explores the sensory experience at heritage sites from the visitors' perspective. A qualitative and exploratory approach was used, considering two data collection methods: semi-structured interviews and in situ focus groups. This empirical study was conducted in the Algarve region, a southern Portugal's sea and sun destination. The data was compiled and analyzed through a thematic content with QSR NVivo 12. The findings suggest that managers should explore and understand tangible, intangible (or immaterial) elements that influence visitors' experiences, attitudes, and behaviours toward the physical environment. In this sense, managers must converge efforts to highlight the sensory cues intrinsic to each site. Furthermore, considering the scarce research addressing sensory experiences in heritage contexts, this study contributes to the literature by exploring the role of the sensory dimension of experiencing a monument that is one of the main attractions in a seasonal mass tourism destination. A framework is presented, which can help managers to design sensory experiences in a built heritage context and assist researchers in future studies. In addition to that, this research also provides some practical implications for management and depicts several leads to future research.

Eco-Tourism: An Option For Sustainable Livelihood And Biodiversity Conservation In Himalayan Region

Tourism is one of the world’s most durable and dynamic sectors, but according to Mowforth and Munt (1998), there is always a dark side. Natural and Protected areas (National Park, Sanctuary) have been in touristic demand since the 1970’s. Uttarakhand is rich in natural resources especially water (through snow-clad and forest recharged) and forests with many glaciers, rivers, dense forests and snow-clad mountain peaks. The state has a vast tourism potential in adventure, leisure, and after all pilgrimage which may link to eco-tourism. The importance of Sustainable Tourism worldwide has increased significantly due to the impact of increased human activity on climate and natural areas (Protected and Un-protected). Nevertheless, it is necessary that the negative impact of the Tourism industry is not enlarged unrealistically. Full advantage can then be drawn from the potential of tourism for inclusive growth, with livelihood support to the poor, most disadvantaged, women and youth. Mass tourism is generally perceived as problematic, destructive to the environment and insensitive. Therefore, as tourism and its environmental impact grows, so does criticism. Growing environmental concern, combined with a general dissatisfaction with such forms of tourism, led to increased demand for sustainable tourism (Mowforth and Munt, 1998).

Typological evolution of temporary accommodation facilities

Temporary accommodation facilities are largely a reflection of socio-economic processes in the middle of society at a certain stage of its existence. The structure of modern hotels bears the imprint of historical prototypes that were formed in countries with different cultural, social, and architectural traditions. Studying the historical evolution of such institutions makes it possible to determine certain historical stages of their formation, identify modern development prospects and outline futuristic directions for their modernization. The article examines the historical evolution of temporary accommodation facilities, the formation and development of their typology. The peculiarities of the architectural and planning organization of hotel establishments of different periods of construction are established. The impact of socio-economic factors on the formation of temporary accommodation facilities at various stages of human development is monitored. The main stages of the development of hotels are highlighted: the ancient period, the Middle Ages, modern times, the formation of the concept of "hotel" at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. Selected periods of rapid development: the beginning of the 20th century up to the period of the world economic crisis of the 1930s; 1950-60 (the end of World War II, the formation of mass tourism); 1980s - the beginning of the 21st century (the flourishing of international tourism); 2020 - to the present days (the impact of the global pandemic Сovid-19, the war in Ukraine, the general global economic recession). During the last decades, taking into account the climatic, ecological, man-made and socio-political challenges, the hotel business has become characterized by: a certain departure from "internationalization" in the architectural and design solutions of hotel establishments; appeal to national cultural traditions; specialization of hotels; expansion of the network of institutions of medium-low level of comfort; the direction of ecological and energy-efficient construction; the use of "theatrical effects" and futurism in the design of hotel interiors and exteriors; spread of eco-hotels, "green tourism" facilities, "capsule hotels". The article deals with the issues of architectural and figurative transformation of buildings during the reconstruction of historical industrial enterprises (mid-eighteenth century - first half of the XX century). The main principles for the implementation of such a transformation are determined: ensuring urban integrity; preservation of the historical image of industrial architecture; nuances in their general architectural and spatial organization (symbiosis with the environment); contrast between old and new; compliance with national and regional cultural traditions; environmentally friendly solutions. Examples of the application of these principles in the world practice of the reconstruction of industrial buildings for various public functions are analyzed. Techniques that allow to implement these principles in the renovation of historical buildings are defined. These methods include: conservation and restoration of the characteristic elements of industrial architecture; reuse of authentic materials and designs; the inclusion of industrial equipment in the interiors and exteriors of objects of reconstruction; the use of forms, materials, structures, furniture - contrasting with the primary industrial structure while ensuring symbiosis with the environment due to the nuanced solution of the overall composition, the delicate inclusion of new elements, the preservation of rhythmic patterns, the use of building and finishing materials, elements of architectural «camouflage» (grids, perforations, glazing, openwork metal structures, etc.); «absorption» of old buildings or their parts by new structures. In addition, an accentuated appeal to the characteristic features of the national cultural traditions of the construction region, the use of local building and finishing materials, forms, structures, the use of local ornaments, patterns, objects of arts and crafts is proposed. It is recommended to use environmentally friendly materials, landscaping elements in the interiors and exteriors of buildings, the formation of a building area using the natural landscape along with the inclusion of industrial elements of industrial architecture.

Tourist Rescue in Natural Disasters

In recent years, the tourism industry has expanded rapidly and China will enter the mass tourism era comprehensively, with tourism becoming an important leisure lifestyle for people. However, natural disasters have the characteristics of high frequency, multiple types, wide distribution and large post-disaster losses, which often cause huge impact on tourism industry development. It is of great practical significance to explore the key factors for successful rescue of tourists after disasters. Taking the Wenchuan earthquake as an example, the article selects the Fuzzy Delphi Method and the Analytical Hierarchy Process as the data analysis method, and also randomly selects the local residents of 20 affected scenic spots as the research subjects. The results show that among the assessment dimensions, the most important dimension is prevention, followed by preparedness, response and recovery respectively. Meanwhile, among the 16 assessment indicators, the top five most valued indicators were regional emergency planning, management systems, prompt notification, publicity and education, training and emergency drill in order.

Tourism-driven displacement in Naples, Italy

The contribution examines the case of Naples and the impacts of mass tourism on its historical centre. Naples is the third largest city in Italy and the first in the south. The case is presented within the framework of critical urban studies that have delved into the rise of displacement and overtourism in Southern European cities. The paper aims to contribute to the debate, deepening the case of a city that has been less considered, although it has been severely affected by tourism-driven displacement in recent times. The case is presented through quantitative data, maps and short interview excerpts. The findings suggest the need for urgent urban planning intervention in order to avoid the expulsion of inhabitants. In particular, it argues the importance of addressing the issue through land use policy.

Impervious Land Expansion as a Control Parameter for Climate-Resilient Planning on the Mediterranean Coast: Evidence from Greece

Impervious land expansion is linked to ecosystem fragmentation and degradation, posing threats to nature conservation and multiplying climate change impacts. This is particularly true on the Mediterranean coast, where persistent urbanization is coupled with tourism development, further intensifying coastal erosion, flood risk, heat stress and biodiversity loss, while decreasing carbon sequestration. In this research, high-resolution imperviousness data were analyzed through a geospatial methodology to detect patterns and processes in a heavily burdened Mediterranean coastal area, namely Greece. The methodology was structured on a set of GIS tools, analyzing the distribution of new impervious cover between 2006 and 2018, to evaluate pressures exerted on coastal territories and on the environmental protection network. The results revealed relatively slow rates of impervious land expansion at a nationwide scale, mostly attributed to the economic recession period in Greece. However, certain locations exhibited continuing artificialization of land even within Natura 2000 areas, while future pressures on coastal territories are expected to increase due to the restarting of construction activity and the continuing dynamic of the mass tourism sector. The conclusions imply that controlling for imperviousness is important in order to develop spatial planning policies for climate resilience, which should be decisively enforced in the Mediterranean to prevent a business-as-usual scenario.

Distribution, threats and protection of selected karst groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the Mediterranean region

Karst groundwater-dependent ecosystems (KGDEs) in the Mediterranean region are important in terms of ecosystem services and biodiversity but are increasingly under anthropogenic pressures and climate-change constraints. For this study, the ecohydrological characteristics, threats, and protection status of 112 selected KGDEs around the Mediterranean Sea, including caves, springs, rivers and wetlands, were evaluated, based on local expert knowledge and scientific literature. Results demonstrate that KGDEs contribute considerably to regional biodiversity. The diversity of karst landscapes, combined with the groundwater emergence at springs, leads to exceptional habitat diversity, particularly in arid climates, where KGDEs serve as a refuge for species that could not thrive in the surrounding environment. The most common threats identified among the selected sites are direct human disturbances, such as mass tourism or overfishing, water-quality deterioration and water shortage from aquifer overdraft and/or climate change. Although most of the selected sites are under protection, conservation measures are frequently insufficient. Such shortcomings are often caused by poor data availability, little knowledge on conservation needs of invertebrate species, and conflicts of interest with the local population. For this purpose, it is necessary to raise environmental awareness and promote interdisciplinary research, in order to monitor water quality and quantity in addition to the status of the biocenoses.