Coordinator: Margarida Santos

Co-coordinator: Jorge Ramos

Framework: Tourism has a clear but complex relationship with the territory. Territories are not only spaces where tourism activities happen but, many times, the touristic resource itself, or even a set of multiple touristic resources that give rise to several products and touristic experiences. Indeed, the study of tourism phenomena requires a careful evaluation of the territories dynamics, their resources, potentialities and fragilities, since tourism can bring investment to the local economies, thus altering their economic structure, but also change the natural and humanized landscapes.

In the research area of sustainable tourism and territories, the negative impacts of tourism must be addressed, in order to be minimized, so that both tourists and residents reach the maximum benefits from tourism. In this area, several research challenges should receive attention: how carrying capacity of territories can sustainably support touristic offer, assessment and minimization of natural landscapes deterioration, diversification as strategy for climate change adaptation, strategies for landscape valorisation, territory planning, cities requalification and promotion of identity and authenticity of touristic territories.

Focus: This research area focuses on designing healthier, greener, resilient, regenerated tourism destinations, with better mobility conditions, improved air and water quality, reduced crime and security costs.

Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN for 2030: Sustainable cities and communities (goal 11); Life on land (goal 15); climate action (goal 13)

Keywords: Tourism Planning and Development; Tourism Geographies; Environmental Impacts of Tourism; Resilience in Tourism; Ecotourism and Protected Areas; Smart Tourism; Outdoor Recreation; Design of Recreation Areas; Touristic Resources; Park/Beach Management; Regenerative Tourism.

Photo by Appolinary Kalashnikova on Unsplash