Author(s)

P. Aguilera, M.F. Schmitz, I. de Aranzabal, H. Castro & F.D. Pineda

Abstract

The management of natural areas requires a knowledge of what tourists demand in order that these resources can be optimized. A survey was carried out in an area in the southeast of Spain, which contains three protected natural spaces, with the aim of finding out the types and characteristics of visitors. The data were treated using an agglomerative multivariate classification technique. The results allowed differentiation of two main types of visitors: generalists and specialists. Both showed a high interest in contemplation of the landscape and contact with nature. The generalist tourists place a low value on the wildlife and rural properties of the landscape, with their motives for visiting being related to leisu

Keywords