Birdwatcher profile in the Ria Formosa Natural Park

Authors

  • Andreia Costa Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve
  • Pedro Pintassilgo University of the Algarve, Faculty of Economics
  • António Matias Faculty of Economics and Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, University of Algarve
  • Patrícia Pinto Faculty of Economics and Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, University of Algarve
  • Maria Helena Guimarães Landscape Dynamics and Social Processes Group, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas (ICAAM), University of Évora

Keywords:

Birdwatching, birdwatcher profile, Environmental awareness, Ria Formosa, Algarve

Abstract

In the Algarve the potential for birdwatching tourism is widely recognized, especially in the Ria Formosa Natural Park (RFNP). This study aims to describe birdwatchers’ profile in the RFNP. For this purpose a survey was applied. The results show that the most frequent nationalities of birdwatchers are: British (39%), Dutch (17%) and Portuguese (17%). The majority of birdwatchers are male (55%) and married (57%). The average age is 50 years old. They are highly educated (74% have an academic degree). Concerning profession, the most frequent answer was retired (41%). Respondents are committed to the activity as the majority possess special equipment and practice birdwatching in vacations. This study also tests if nationality is related to other characteristics of the birdwatchers, by using the Kruskal-Wallis and the Chi-square tests. Overall, the results of this study highlight that regional management organizations should invest in developing birdwatching in the RFNP. 

Author Biographies

  • Andreia Costa, Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve
    MSc in Tourism Economics and Regional Development
  • Pedro Pintassilgo, University of the Algarve, Faculty of Economics
    PhD, Assistant Professor
  • António Matias, Faculty of Economics and Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, University of Algarve
    PhD, Assistant Professor
  • Patrícia Pinto, Faculty of Economics and Research Centre for Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, University of Algarve
    PhD, Associate Professor
  • Maria Helena Guimarães, Landscape Dynamics and Social Processes Group, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas (ICAAM), University of Évora
    PhD

References

Amaral, S. D. (2009). A avifauna como meio de valorização turística da Ria Formosa – Faro. (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). University of Algarve, Portugal.

Ballantyne, R., Packer, J., & Hughes, K. (2009). Tourists’ support for conservation messages and sustainable management practices in wildlife tourism experiences. Tourism Management, 30(5), 658–664. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2008.11.003

Ceia, F. R., Patrício, J., Marques, J. C., & Dias, J. A. (2010). Coastal vulnerability in barrier islands: The high risk areas of the Ria Formosa (Portugal) system. Ocean & Coastal Management, 53(8), 478-486. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2010.06.004

Cole, J, S., & Scott, D. (1999). Segmenting participation in wildlife watching: a comparison of casual wildlife watchers and serious birders. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 4(4), 44-61. doi:10.1080/10871209909359164

Connell, J. (2009). Birdwatching, twitching and tourism: towards an Australian perspective. Australian Geographer, 40(2), 203-217. doi:10.1080/00049180902964942

Czajkowski, M., Giergiczny, M., Kronenberg, J., & Tryjanowski, P. (2014). The economic recreational value of a white stork nesting colony: A case of ‘stork village’ in Poland. Tourism Management, 40, 352-360. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2013.07.009

Eubanks Jr, T.L., Stoll, J.R. & Ditton, R.B. (2004). Understanding the diversity of eight birder sub-populations: socio-demographic characteristics, motivations, expenditures and net benefits. Journal of Ecotourism, 3(3), 151-172. doi:10.1080/14664200508668430

Green, R. J., & Jones, D. N. (2010). Practices, needs and attitudes of birdwatching tourists in Australia. Queensland: Cooperative Research Center for Sustainable Tourism.

Guimarães, M. H., Nunes, L. C., Madureira, L., Santos, J. L., Boski, T. & Dentinho, T. (2014). Measuring birdwatchers preferences: A case for using online networks and mixed-mode surveys. Tourism Management, 46, 102-113. doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2014.06.016

ICNF – Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e Florestas (2015). Parque Natural da Ria Formosa: Classificação | Caracterização. Retrieved from ICNF website: http://www.icnf.pt/portal/ap/p-nat/pnrf/class-carac

Jackson, S. (2007). Attitudes towards the environment and ecotourism of stakeholders in the UK tourism industry with particular reference to ornithological tour operators.

Journal of Ecotourism, 6(1), 34-66. doi:10.2167/joe126.0

Jafari, J. (2003). Encyclopedia of tourism. New York. Routledge.

Jones, D. N. & Buckley, R. (2001). Birdwatching Tourism in Australia. (Wildlife Tourism Research Report Series nº 10). Queensland: Cooperative Research Center for Sustainable Tourism.

Lee, C., Lee, Jin-Hyung, K., Tae-Kyun & Mjelde, J.W. (2010). Preferences and willingness to pay for birdwatching tour and interpretative services using a choice experiment. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 18(5), 695-708. doi:10.1080/09669581003602333

Machado, A. (2011). Bird-watching Tourism in Europe: case study of the Algarve. (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Bournemouth University, United Kingdom.

Ministério do Plano e da Administração do Território (1987). Decreto Lei 373/87, de 9 de Dezembro. Retrieved from Diário da República website: http://dre.tretas.org/dre/44878/.

Ministro, J. S. & Miguel, S. (2009). Birdwatching no Algarve – Propostas de Estruturação e Organização. Faro. Entidade Regional de Turismo do Algarve.

Mogollón, J.M.H., Cerro, A. M. C. & Durán, J.M.G. (2011). Propuestas para el desarrollo y comercialización del turismo ornitológico en Extremadura. Cuaderno de Turismo, 28, 93-119. Retrieved from: http://revistas.um.es/turismo/article/view/147241/131411

Moore, R. L., Scott, D., & Moore, A. (2008). Gender-Based Differences in Birdwachters’ Participation and Commitment. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 13(2), 89-101. Doi:10.1080/10871200701882525

Newton, A. & Mudge, S.M. (2003). Temperature and salinity regimes in a shallow, mesotidal lagoon, the Ria Formosa, Portugal. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 57(1-2), 73–85. doi:10.1016/S0272-7714(02)00332-3

Reynolds, P. C., & Braithwaite, D. (2001). Towards a conceptual framework for wildlife tourism. Tourism Management, 22(1), 31-42. doi:10.1016/S0261-5177(00)00018-2

Ribeiro, J., Monteiro, C.C., Monteiro, P., Bentes, L., Coelho, R., Gonçalves, J. M.S., Lino, P.G., & Erzini, K. (2008). Long-term changes in fish communities of the Ria Formosa coastal lagoon (southern Portugal) based on two studies made 20 years apart. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 76(1), 57-68. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2007.06.001

Roig, J. L. (2008). El turismo ornitológico en el marco del postfordismo, una aproximación Teórico-Conceptual. Cuadernos del Turismo, 21, 85-111. Retrieved from: http://revistas.um.es/turismo/article/view/25001

Scott, D. & Thigpen, J. (2003). Understanding the birder as tourist: segmenting visitors to the texas hummer/bird celebration. Human Dimensions of Wildlife: An International Journal, 8(3), 199-218. doi: 10.1080/10871200390215579

Sociedade Polis Litoral, SA (2010). Avaliação Ambiental do Plano Estratégico da Intervenção de Requalificação e Valorização da Ria Formosa: Relatório Ambiental Final. Volume 1. Lisboas: Nemus – Gestão e Requalificação Ambiental, Lda.

Tisdell, C. A. & Wilson, C. (2004). Economic, wildlife tourism and conservation: three case studies. Queensland: Cooperative Reserach Center for Sustainable Tourism.

Turismo de Portugal (2006). Turismo de Natureza. 10 Produtos estratégicos para o desenvolvimento do turismo em Portugal. Lisboa: Ministério da Economia e da Inovação.

Turismo do Algarve (2012). Birdwatching Guide to the Algarve. Faro: Gráfica Comercial. Faro.

Vowles, G. A. & Vowles, R. S. (1994). Breeding Birds of the Algarve. Vila Real de Santo António: Centro de Estudos Ornitológicos no Algarve.

Wright, J. (1995). Birders and twitchers: Towards developing typologies. Tourism and Leisure: Towards the Millennium. Eastbourne. Leisure Studies Association.

Downloads

Published

31.01.2018

Issue

Section

Tourism/Hospitality: Research Papers

How to Cite

Costa, A., Pintassilgo, P., Matias, A., Pinto, P., & Guimarães, M. H. (2018). Birdwatcher profile in the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Tourism & Management Studies, 14(1), 69-78. https://tmstudies.net/index.php/ectms/article/view/1066

Most read articles by the same author(s)