IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i11p5190-d1672211.html

Assessing Ecotourism Opportunities in Macaronesian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): An Adapted MEET Indicator-Based Methodology

Author

Listed:
  • Daniela Casimiro

    (CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Pólo dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Açores, Portugal
    BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
    Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Mãe de Deus, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal)

  • Marina Diaz Escudero

    (CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Pólo dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Açores, Portugal
    Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain)

  • José Ângelo Guerreiro

    (Centro MARE—Marine and Environmental Research Centre, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
    Research Centre of the Institute for Political Studies, Catholic University, 1649-023 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Maria Anunciação Ventura

    (CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Pólo dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Açores, Portugal
    BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
    Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Rua Mãe de Deus, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal)

Abstract

Tourism significantly contributes to the economic growth of countries, especially in insular areas such as Small Islands Developing States (SIDSs) or the outmost regions of Europe. If managed properly, ecotourism offers a sustainable alternative by promoting nature conservation while benefiting local communities. The aim of this study was to develop a methodology to assess the existing conditions in marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Macaronesian archipelagos for the development of ecotourism activities. To achieve this, the methodology of the Mediterranean Experience of Ecotourism (MEET) was adapted to the unique environmental, social, and economic context of the region. A set of indicators was developed and refined through expert evaluation and the results revealed a strong level of satisfaction with the indicators created. This approach contributes to the sustainable management of MPAs by providing a practical tool to evaluate their potential for ecotourism development. The refined indicators can assist policymakers, MPA managers, and stakeholders in designing sustainable ecotourism products that align with conservation goals, ensuring long-term ecological and economic benefits for the Macaronesian region.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniela Casimiro & Marina Diaz Escudero & José Ângelo Guerreiro & Maria Anunciação Ventura, 2025. "Assessing Ecotourism Opportunities in Macaronesian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): An Adapted MEET Indicator-Based Methodology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:5190-:d:1672211
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/11/5190/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/11/5190/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rose Queiroz & José Guerreiro & Maria Ventura, 2014. "Demand of the tourists visiting protected areas in small oceanic islands: the Azores case-study (Portugal)," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 16(5), pages 1119-1135, October.
    2. Ruiz-Frau, A. & Hinz, H. & Edwards-Jones, G. & Kaiser, M.J., 2013. "Spatially explicit economic assessment of cultural ecosystem services: Non-extractive recreational uses of the coastal environment related to marine biodiversity," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 90-98.
    3. Fabio Mazzola & Pietro Pizzuto & Giovanni Ruggieri, 2022. "Tourism and territorial growth determinants in insular regions: A comparison with mainland regions for some European countries (2008–2019)," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 101(6), pages 1331-1382, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yuqing Zhao & Zenglin Han & Changren Zhang & Yuqiao Wang & Jingqiu Zhong & Mengfan Gao, 2024. "Coastal Cultural Ecosystem Services: A Bridge between the Natural Ecosystem and Social Ecosystem for Sustainable Development," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Schmidt, Katja & Walz, Ariane & Martín-López, Berta & Sachse, René, 2017. "Testing socio-cultural valuation methods of ecosystem services to explain land use preferences," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 26(PA), pages 270-288.
    3. Igor Trišić & Eldin Brđanin & Nevena Majstorović & Adina Nicoleta Candrea & Snežana Štetić & Florin Nechita & Jelena Premović, 2024. "Importance of the Ramsar Site Labudovo Okno for Sustainable Tourism—Evidence from Vojvodina Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Igor Trišić & Donatella Privitera & Vladica Ristić & Snežana Štetić & Danka Milojković & Marija Maksin, 2023. "Protected Areas in the Function of Sustainable Tourism Development—A Case of Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve, Vojvodina Province," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Lisa Ernoul & Angela Wardell-Johnson & Raphaël Mathevet & Alain Sandoz & Olivier Boutron & Loïc Willm & Stephan Arnassant & Arnaud Béchet, 2021. "Context in Landscape Planning: Improving Conservation Outcomes by Identifying Social Values for a Flagship Species," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-12, June.
    6. Elina De Simone & Mara Giua & Cristina Vaquero-Piñeiro, 2024. "Eat, visit, love. World heritage list and geographical indications: Joint acknowledgement and consistency as drivers of tourism attractiveness in Italy," Tourism Economics, , vol. 30(6), pages 1531-1556, September.
    7. Emmanouil Tyllianakis & Lenka Fronkova & Paulette Posen & Tiziana Luisetti & Stephen Mangi Chai, 2020. "Mapping Ecosystem Services for Marine Planning: A UK Case Study," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-27, April.
    8. Karimi, Azadeh & Yazdandad, Hossein & Fagerholm, Nora, 2020. "Evaluating social perceptions of ecosystem services, biodiversity, and land management: Trade-offs, synergies and implications for landscape planning and management," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    9. Pilar Muñoz-Dueñas & Manuel Meijide-Vecino & Jesús F. Lampón & Antonio Vaamonde-Liste, 2024. "Do crises Really Catalyze Creative Destruction? A Critical Reflection on Firm Survival," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, June.
    10. Sebastien Bourdin & Victoire Cottereau & François Hermet & Philippe Jean‐Pierre & Eduardo Medeiros, 2023. "How have Europe’s outermost regions dealt with the economic and social consequences of the COVID‐19 crisis? Effects, policies and recommendations," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(8), pages 1820-1840, October.
    11. Igor Trišić & Donatella Privitera & Snežana Štetić & Marko D. Petrović & Milan M. Radovanović & Marija Maksin & Dario Šimičević & Sara Stanić Jovanović & Dobrila Lukić, 2022. "Sustainable Tourism to the Part of Transboundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve “Mura-Drava-Danube”. A Case of Serbia, Croatia and Hungary," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-13, May.
    12. Vladica Ristić & Igor Trišić & Snežana Štetić & Marija Maksin & Florin Nechita & Adina Nicoleta Candrea & Marko Pavlović & Andreea Hertanu, 2024. "Institutional, Ecological, Economic, and Socio-Cultural Sustainability—Evidence from Ponjavica Nature Park," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-19, May.
    13. Mohamed Khalfan Mohamed & Elhadi Adam & Colbert M. Jackson, 2024. "Assessing the Perception and Contribution of Mangrove Ecosystem Services to the Well-Being of Coastal Communities of Chwaka and Menai Bays, Zanzibar," Resources, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-23, January.
    14. Mafalda Gómez-Vega & Iván Boal & Pablo Alonso-Villa, 2024. "Does the accumulation of creative capital influence the competitiveness of the tourism sector in European regions?," Tourism Economics, , vol. 30(8), pages 1951-1972, December.
    15. Igor Trišić & Snežana Štetić & Donatella Privitera & Marko D. Petrović & Marija Maksin & Slavoljub Vujović & Zoran Jovanović & Marija Kalinić, 2021. "Perspectives on Sustainable Tourism Development in the Hotel Industry—A Case Study from Southern Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, May.
    16. Baraka P. Nyangoko & Håkan Berg & Mwita M. Mangora & Martin Gullström & Mwanahija S. Shalli, 2020. "Community Perceptions of Mangrove Ecosystem Services and Their Determinants in the Rufiji Delta, Tanzania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-22, December.
    17. Chalkiadakis, Charis & Drakou, Evangelia G. & Kraak, Menno-Jan, 2022. "Ecosystem service flows: A systematic literature review of marine systems," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    18. Fery Kurniawan & Luky Adrianto & Dietriech Geoffrey Bengen & Lilik Budi Prasetyo, 2023. "Hypothetical effects assessment of tourism on coastal water quality in the Marine Tourism Park of the Gili Matra Islands, Indonesia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 7959-7985, August.
    19. Igor Trišić & Danka Milojković & Vladica Ristić & Florin Nechita & Marija Maksin & Snežana Štetić & Adina Nicoleta Candrea, 2023. "Sustainable Tourism of Important Plant Areas (IPAs)—A Case of Three Protected Areas of Vojvodina Province," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, June.
    20. Stamatiadou, Valentini & Mazaris, Antonios & Mallios, Zisis & Katsanevakis, Stelios, 2023. "Valuation and mapping of the recreational diving ecosystem service of the Aegean Sea," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:5190-:d:1672211. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.