Linking Well-being, Nature and Tourism: A participatory approach

Identifier:  TDX:4334

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX4334

Authors:  Font Barnet, Alba

Abstract:
This doctoral thesis explores the relationship between wellbeing, nature and tourism from both a theoretical and methodological perspective to understand and demonstrate the important contribution of nature to the well-being of society through conservation, community management, public use and tourism. The thesis is the result of the sum of scientific publications, and also projects and case studies applied to coastal protected areas and blue spaces. The research is developed around five specific objectives. The first is to provide a literature review of the relationship between tourism, well-being and nature, and the second is to identify the multidimensional well-being benefits of protected areas. The third objective is to provide a methodological proposal for co-designing well-being experiences in nature. The fourth is to explore the motivations and well-being benefits of users of blue spaces and coastal paths. And finally, to develop a framework of proposals, recommendations and guidelines to promote, integrate and enhance the benefits of protected natural areas. Based on an action research approach, this work has been developed in several cases in Europe and Latin America through a methodological process in which local stakeholders (residents, protected area managers and the tourism and well-being sector) have been actively involved. This research provides evidence on the well-being of users of protected areas, blue spaces and coastal walks in a multidimensional way, but the challenge is to make nature and coast a good place to live and visit.