Corso di geografia turistica

Unit F1

p.193

• Religious tourism is a growing market; it involves young people, families and the elderly who often travel in the real mode of sustainable tourism, sensitive to the natural, gastronomic and cultural resources of the places they visit due to their intense spirituality.
• Today, in fact, pilgrims are tourists in their own right, who combine the religious motivations of the journey with the aim of discovering the territory. Spiritual places are therefore a crucial opportunity for enhancing a region in cultural and tourism terms, and for producing a beneficial effect on the local economy.
• The European Union is well aware of the connection between cultural and religious tourism, and has declared the Way of St. James and the Via Francigena as “European pilgrimage routes”, underlining that the common European cultural identity is also expressed through the practice of tourism.
• In Europe, the world centre of religious tourism linked to the Christian faith, the flows are concentrated along the paths traced by pilgrims over the centuries (Way of St. James, Via Francigena), the places connected with the cult of Mary (Czestokowa, Lourdes, Fatima, Medjugone) and the area of the Greek Orthodox faith.

Unit F2

p.201

• Several European countries are experiencing a decisive return of the use of the bicycle as a means of transport. Cycling mobility is being encouraged by local governments and by the EU to alleviate problems caused by excessive car traffic and environmental pollution.
• There are many projects in the process of being implemented, supported by European Union grants, to encourage and educate people in bicycle use, and cyclotourism is included as one of the objectives.
• An extensive network of cycle routes winds for thousands of miles across Europe, from east to west and from north to south, and further expansion is planned before 2020.
• Cyclotourism collects ever more fans, so much so that some European nations, sensing the economic implications, have put in place adequate infrastructure (bike lanes, bed & bike hotels, signage, and refreshment facilities) in order to attract this type of tourist, with careful attention paid to all the resources of the area whilst respecting local nature and culture.
• The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and large cities such as Barcelona, Paris, London and Brussels have all, as much as possible, implemented measures to facilitate bicycle use both in everyday life and for tourism: long cycle tracks, good signage and maintenance thereof, traffic light networks that benefit cyclists, and opportunities to rent bicycles and carry them on public transport.

Unit F3

p.207

• In the last three decades of the twentieth century the archipelago of the Balearic Islands has been affected by increasing tourist flows that have radically changed its characteristics and economy, which today is based entirely on tourism.
• The lack of planning and the desire to make quick profits led to an increase in mass tourism and an uncontrolled urbanization that has devastated coastal areas.
• The myth of the “sun and sea” holiday, which has been the engine of tourism in these islands, began to show signs of fatigue at the end of the nineties, until it exploded during the economic crisis of 2009-2010. The fact is that, to support the large numbers, attention was not paid to the quality of the product resulting in the most demanding segment of tourists, those who are sensitive to sustainability and cultural heritage, staying away.
• In recent years, albeit with a certain delay, the islands are looking to repair the damage , focusing on tourism that is more aware and compatible with environmental resources. The creation of protected areas and natural parks, and the adoption of restrictive laws on construction along the coast are solid steps in this direction.

Unit F4

p.215

• The mountains of Europe, which constitute a valuable reserve of fresh water and includes a great wealth of biodiversity, have today become an endangered ecosystem.
• Deforestation, aggressive agricultural and pastoral practices, tourism developments with low sustainability and, but not least, climate change have put a great strain on the survival of this heritage.
• The eight Alpine countries (Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia) and the EU have signed an agreement which, among others, is committed to structuring tourism in the Alps in a sustainable manner, by protecting the environment and the interests of local populations.
• In addition, the EU has funded a project that addresses, in consultation with the Alpine countries, the World Wildlife Fund and others, the issues of climate change, the impact of tourism on the mountains, and on the need for sustainable development in these areas.
• These themes are interwoven with the development of tourism demand, which has recently shown an increasing desire for nature and authentic, differentiated experiences; at the expense of the traditional ways of enjoying mountain holidays (winter sports and summer hiking and mountain climbing) that are now in decline.