**2. Planning alternative tourism and tourism development projects**

Planning for alternative tourism and creating Tourism Development Projects in eco-cultural tourism is carried out in unique spaces that, generally, have received little impact from conventional and/or traditional tourism. They are concrete, different or special spaces that are distinguishable from others. They are easier to design, manage and carry out [4]. The tourism development projects are based on planning models that involve the participation of all agents: representatives, politicians, businessmen and women, neighbourhood associations, indigenous communities, environmental groups, etc. The entire population of the natural and cultural area is involved in economic and social sustainable development and can obtain income, employment, and material and cultural wellbeing. Therefore, all agents organise their own tourism model based on the available resources, the existing heritage and the characteristics of the inhabiting communities.

**Table 2** shows a Planning and Sustainable Development Model for Eco-cultural Tourism comprising three phases, that can be applied to natural, cultural and urban areas, and that includes the following types of tourism: interior tourism, ecotourism, cultural tourism, rural tourism, natural tourism, domestic tourism, national tourism, experiential tourism, adventure tourism, agrotourism and green tourism. The first phase known as the PRELIMINARY STUDY of the whole area, is derived


#### **Table 2.**

*Planning and sustainable development model for eco-cultural tourism.*

*Tourism*

environmental tourism, anthropological tourism, low impact tourism, travel with Mother Nature, adventure travel, jungle tourism, cultural tourism, ecotravel, green tourism, science tourism, soft adventure tourism, bio tourism, ethnic tourism, appropriate tourism, sustainable tourism, ecotripping, socially responsible tourism, ecoventures, nature vacations, wilderness tourism, and ethical travel. As a whole, they are related to responsible, respectful and honest tourism. It's educational because it offers information before, during and after the trip. It's interactive because it entails life experiences involving real contact and participation. It's democratic because the benefits it creates are equally distributed; it encourages the

The growth of ecotourism began in the eighties, notably because of the economic benefits of natural tourism. What is characteristic of ecotourism is that it is a tool for sustainable development [3] and it's categorised as an activity that mixes the excitement of travelling with caring for the environment. Its main goals are

With the modern tourist's demands and new trends, ecotourism is moving on to its next stage and is asserting itself as eco-cultural tourism. It binds searching for contact with nature with valuing cultural authenticity, environmental sustainability, new experiences and a higher number of trips with a shorter stay in each place. That is to say, it's created a symbiosis between natural tourism and cultural tourism, supported by sustainability and limitations on use, by small-scale activities and a

Eco-cultural tourism is a new form of tourism where the main goal is not to generate wealth, expropriate land and exploit resources of inhabitants and countries in order to benefit big companies. It's established itself within a new concept of tourism, both in socioeconomic terms and as a practical activity, that combines the conservation of natural and cultural sites with economic and recreational benefits through sustainable development, and improves the conditions of the recipient communities. The main motivation is observation, appreciation and contemplation

**Table 1** shows the characteristics of eco-cultural tourism from its inception, together with the synergy of the United Nations resolution that emphasises poverty eradication and environmental protection through ecotourism. It's a small-scale and fundamentally emotional form of tourism that promotes sociocultural and traditional values and environmental awareness, and offers benefits both to rural and urban areas. It requires a platform and type of tourism planning that encourages local sustainable development, involving all tourism sectors. It's currently

**Birth of ecotourism:** It's born together with the synergy of the United Nations resolution (2012) that

It's small-scale tourism, with small businesses, with a specific and limited quality production and it's

**It encourages:** Sociocultural and traditional values; environmental awareness; respect for the biosphere, local cultures and traditions; brings benefits to rural and urban communities; economic potential for public

**It requires:** A platform and local sustainable development involving all tourism sectors (touristic planning,

**It currently responds to:** problems related to climate change and imbalances in economic globalisation

emphasises poverty eradication and environmental protection through ecotourism [1].

and private companies, as well as a high-quality tourism experience

through Tourism Development Projects supported by government policies

carrying capacity); socioeconomic and environmental balance.

participation of rural communities and supports resource conservation.

sustainability, preservation and participation of the local community.

as an experience within the natural and cultural environment.

high-quality tourism experience.

fundamentally based on experiences

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**Table 1.**

*Source: own compilation.*

*Characteristics of eco-cultural tourism.*

from a comprehensive study that seeks to obtain specific data (indicators, surveys, interviews) and carry out an analysis and report in accordance with the Factors or Resources, Attractors and Support Systems model (FAS) [5]. This tool allows you to order and classify the main elements that make up a tourism destination. It's divided into factors or resources, attractors (tourism products) and support systems.

The *factors or resources* are the baseline conditions of the original area and are made up of natural and cultural heritage, and of human capital resources. They are the natural resources (water, land, climate); human resources (human capital, cultural traditions, myths and legends, working conditions within the workplace) capital resources (existing financial capital, existing physical capital (airports, ports, roads, railway, etc.) and potential foreign capital investments.

The *tourism products* (attractors) are elements that belong to the natural and cultural heritage of the original area and that have earned value through the application of human factors and capital, and that are now available on the market. Natural tourism products (natural spaces, beaches and adventures in nature) are part of the natural area, just as cultural products (historical heritage, events and a population's lifestyle) belong to the cultural area. Last but not least, artificial products are those such as leisure and entertainment, conventions, exhibitions, shopping centres and shops.

*Support systems* are there to satisfy the needs of tourists, and facilitate their trip and stay in the natural and cultural area of origin. They include catering (hotels, accommodation—tourist apartments, rural homes, guesthouses, etc.—catering establishments). It also includes air, land and sea transport, complementary services (tourist information services, tourist information offices, tourist guides, destination planning).

This data and their indicators and analyses carried out by specialised technicians and specialists, are complemented by researching tourist populations that visit these destinations, their characteristics and preferences, their economic status, their destination images and attitudes towards the environment and biodiversity. A social investigation is carried out on these populations, and the planning and sustainable development model proceeds with the analysis of the following [6]:


To be more specific, the aspects studied within the investigation [7] through national surveys can be useful for the PRELIMINARY STUDY of the natural and cultural area of origin. For example: tourist movement, tourists' profile, why people feel encouraged to choose a specific tourist destination, information habits, purchase and consumption of the real or potential demand, image offer, competitors, tourist expense and the effect of tourism on the area's economy. The reality obtained gives us a general map through which we can find out which resources are available in the area, and the general characteristics of its population and tourists.

The second phase is PLANNING AND CREATING THE TOURISM PROJECT. This involves the detailed analysis of the general map of results from the PRELIMINARY STUDY in order to organise the planning and creation of the

**235**

place has.

nations.

*Eco-Cultural Tourism: Sustainable Development and Promotion of Natural and Cultural Heritage*

The development of the Tourism Project must be based on sustainable development and the load capacity. By doing so, the project will help to maximise the strengths of the area to the fullest, improve the identified weaknesses as far as possible, keep the potential threats under control, and reap rewards from the opportunities the cultural and environmental settings offers. Both public and private administrations of the town must agree on a local plan for the project. Such a plan is intended to develop specific programmes and find sources of funding, as well as to facilitate coordination with other programmes and activities from other departments in order to achieve ongoing, day to day management. This is what a tourist destination that is included in a local plan [4] (p. 61) needs

2.Environmental protection in the places to be visited, around the tourist centres

Tourism Project's goals through the following model: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) [8]. Some relevant *Weaknesses* one can find in the planning of the natural and cultural area are the threats to employment, competing with other destinations, the lack of a sustainable tourism model, the lack of education and training, and the lack of coordination between public and private administrations in matters related to tourism. As for *Strengths*, some examples are natural and cultural historical heritage, biodiversity preservation, lakes, water reservoirs, natural parks, historical roads, the protection of endangered species, handicraft markets and shops, etc. *Threats* include COVID-19, closure of borders of entire cities and countries, emergencies in certain regions of the world, the lack of national rural plans, employee retention and economic slowdown. Finally, *Opportunities* refer to the creation of employment, entrepreneurship support, valuing natural and cultural heritage, and the development of digital competencies, among others.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93897*

in order to succeed:

and the access routes.

3.Good weather conditions.

1.Attractive natural and cultural resources.

4.Easy access from outside and within the destination areas.

are in the same region or offer similar products.

cal roads, sports and birdwatching.

5.Tourist safety and protection: legal assistance, health care, complaints.

6.Value for money, especially when compared with other rival destinations that

7.Information and promotion of the tourist destination. Population awareness regarding the benefits arising from tourism. Kindness and hospitality.

8.Range of leisure activities: cultural tours to eco-museums, walks along histori-

9.Authenticity of the tourist experience: how many distinguishing features the

10.Clear and distinguishable positioning contrasted with other competitive desti-

11.Possible complementary relationship with other destinations nearby that are

already well-known in the marketplace: exploit synergies.

#### *Eco-Cultural Tourism: Sustainable Development and Promotion of Natural and Cultural Heritage DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93897*

Tourism Project's goals through the following model: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) [8]. Some relevant *Weaknesses* one can find in the planning of the natural and cultural area are the threats to employment, competing with other destinations, the lack of a sustainable tourism model, the lack of education and training, and the lack of coordination between public and private administrations in matters related to tourism. As for *Strengths*, some examples are natural and cultural historical heritage, biodiversity preservation, lakes, water reservoirs, natural parks, historical roads, the protection of endangered species, handicraft markets and shops, etc. *Threats* include COVID-19, closure of borders of entire cities and countries, emergencies in certain regions of the world, the lack of national rural plans, employee retention and economic slowdown. Finally, *Opportunities* refer to the creation of employment, entrepreneurship support, valuing natural and cultural heritage, and the development of digital competencies, among others.

The development of the Tourism Project must be based on sustainable development and the load capacity. By doing so, the project will help to maximise the strengths of the area to the fullest, improve the identified weaknesses as far as possible, keep the potential threats under control, and reap rewards from the opportunities the cultural and environmental settings offers. Both public and private administrations of the town must agree on a local plan for the project. Such a plan is intended to develop specific programmes and find sources of funding, as well as to facilitate coordination with other programmes and activities from other departments in order to achieve ongoing, day to day management. This is what a tourist destination that is included in a local plan [4] (p. 61) needs in order to succeed:


*Tourism*

destination planning).

from a comprehensive study that seeks to obtain specific data (indicators, surveys, interviews) and carry out an analysis and report in accordance with the Factors or Resources, Attractors and Support Systems model (FAS) [5]. This tool allows you to order and classify the main elements that make up a tourism destination. It's divided

The *tourism products* (attractors) are elements that belong to the natural and cultural heritage of the original area and that have earned value through the application of human factors and capital, and that are now available on the market. Natural tourism products (natural spaces, beaches and adventures in nature) are part of the natural area, just as cultural products (historical heritage, events and a population's lifestyle) belong to the cultural area. Last but not least, artificial products are those such as leisure and entertainment, conventions, exhibitions, shopping centres and shops. *Support systems* are there to satisfy the needs of tourists, and facilitate their trip and stay in the natural and cultural area of origin. They include catering (hotels, accommodation—tourist apartments, rural homes, guesthouses, etc.—catering establishments). It also includes air, land and sea transport, complementary services (tourist information services, tourist information offices, tourist guides,

This data and their indicators and analyses carried out by specialised technicians

4.Perceptions regarding artistic and cultural heritage in the destination images

To be more specific, the aspects studied within the investigation [7] through national surveys can be useful for the PRELIMINARY STUDY of the natural and cultural area of origin. For example: tourist movement, tourists' profile, why people feel encouraged to choose a specific tourist destination, information habits, purchase and consumption of the real or potential demand, image offer, competitors, tourist expense and the effect of tourism on the area's economy. The reality obtained gives us a general map through which we can find out which resources are available

The second phase is PLANNING AND CREATING THE TOURISM PROJECT.

5.Attitudes towards the environmental surroundings and biodiversity.

in the area, and the general characteristics of its population and tourists.

This involves the detailed analysis of the general map of results from the PRELIMINARY STUDY in order to organise the planning and creation of the

and specialists, are complemented by researching tourist populations that visit these destinations, their characteristics and preferences, their economic status, their destination images and attitudes towards the environment and biodiversity. A social investigation is carried out on these populations, and the planning and sustainable development model proceeds with the analysis of the following [6]:

1.Tourist populations that visit the local place of origin.

3.Economic and consumption situation.

of tourist populations.

2.Preferences regarding cultural, social and religious traits.

into factors or resources, attractors (tourism products) and support systems. The *factors or resources* are the baseline conditions of the original area and are made up of natural and cultural heritage, and of human capital resources. They are the natural resources (water, land, climate); human resources (human capital, cultural traditions, myths and legends, working conditions within the workplace) capital resources (existing financial capital, existing physical capital (airports,

ports, roads, railway, etc.) and potential foreign capital investments.

**234**

Last phase: IMPLEMENTATION AND ASSESSMENT OF THE TOURISM PROJECT. At this point, the principles and pillars of sustainability are applied, as well as the purposes of the tourism project, which must be done over temporary phases so that it is possible to make improvements, to turn down alternatives that have not worked out, and to formulate different strategies that help strengthen the project. In this context, the state, policies on tourism and leisure, and the sustainable development of eco-cultural tourism in the cultural and natural area are important. The Marrakech Process [9] recommends sustainable policy management. It also states that the policies should be led by local authorities, indigenous and local communities, any international organisation linked to the plan, the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and consumers.
