Sustainable Development and Environmental Tourism. The Case of Lake Karla – Thessaly, Greece
Abstract
Sustainable development is the common ground between the three components: environment, economy, and society, which are also known as sustainability pillars. In this work, an attempt was made to investigate whether Lake Karla - Mavrovouni, supporting agriculture, biodiversity and cultural activities and being part of the Natura 2000 protected area network, in combination with the diverse topics of environmental education, can contribute for the sustainable development of local societies, with the contribution of the collective bodies of local self-government. For the holistic management of the protected area of the "Karla" lake, the managers must consider on the one hand the protection of the natural and cultural heritage and on the other hand the sustainable development of the area through the promotion of the natural and cultural heritage and the promotion of environmental tourism. For this purpose, managers need to know socio-economic and demographic characteristics of visitors. Here, questionnaire responses were used to investigate the profile, environmental perception, knowledge, and behavior of visitors. In total, more than 300 questionnaires were sent, and finally 161 questionnaires were fully answered, which constitute the research sample. The analysis of the results showed that the natural and cultural environment contribute to the sustainable development of the wider area of Lake Karla-Mavrovouni, highlighting through them serious advantages and opportunities to exploit the area by the local bodies.
References
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[30] Trakala, G. 2023. The promotion of the natural/cultural heritage and the environmental education and information of citizens, challenge for the protection and sustainable development. The case of Karla’s Lake – Mavrovouni mountain. Master Thesis. Ionian University, School of Enviroment, Enviroment Department.
[31] Trakala, G., A., Tsiroukis, and A. Martinis 2023. Eco Cultural Development of a Restored Lake Environment: The Case Study of Lake Karla (Thessaly, Greece). Land 2023, 12: 1227. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061227
[32] Tsonis, L.J. 2008. Ecotourism Development: Government, Industry and Community Linkages. Proceedings from the Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) 2008 Conference, 9-12 July 2008, Bangkok, Thailand.
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[34] Zalidis, G.C., S., Katsavouni, G., Bilas and S., Chatzigiannakis, 1999. Suggested Interventions to Restore Sustainably the Karla Wetland; Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre: Thessaloniki, Greece, 1999. (In Greek)
[35] Zhong, L., J., Deng, Z., Song, and P., Ding 2011. Research on environmental impacts of tourism in China: Progress and prospect. Journal of Environmental Management 92: 2972-2983. DOI:http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.07.011
[36] Management Authority of Lake Karla. Available online: http://www.fdkarlas.gr/Default.aspx
[2] Banaš, M., and Zahradník. D. 2012. Monitoring of the visitors’ opinions in protected mountain areas in the Czech Republic (KRNAP, NP and PLA Šumava, PLA Jeseníky, PLA Beskydy). Public Recreation and Landscape Protection – With Man Hand in Hand, Conference Proceeding, Mendel University in Brno, 7–16.
[3] Brohman, J. 1996. New directions in tourism for third world development. Annals of Tourism Research 23(1): 48-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(95)00043-7
[4] Catsadorakis, G. 2019. Establishment and Growth of a New Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus Colony in Central Greece. Acta Ornithologica 54(1): 125-132.
[5] Dodouras, S., I., Lyratzaki and T., Papayannis 2014. Lake Karla Walking Guide; Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (med-INA): Athens, Greece, 2014; 228p. https://med-ina.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ENG-Karla-web-extra-low.pdf
[6] Evans, J. and P., Jones 2011. The walking interview: Methodology, mobility and place. Applied Geography 31 (2): 849-858.
[7] Gardner, G. and P. C., Stern 2002. Environmental problems and human behavior, 2nd edition, Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
[8] Genc, M. and M., Akilli 2016. Modelling the relationships between sub-dimensions of environmental literacy. Applied Environmental Education and Communication 15(1): 58-74. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/1533015X.2016.1141724
[9] Jones, N., K., Panagiotidou, I., Spilanis, K., Evangelinos and P., Dimitrakopoulos 2011. Visitors’ perceptions on the management of an important nesting site for Loggerhead Sea turtle (Caretta caretta L.): The case of Rethymno coastal area in Greece. Ocean Coast. Manag. 54: 577–584. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2011.05.001
[10] Joseph, A. and C., Zimring 2007. Where active older adults walk: Understanding the factors related to path choice for walking among active retirement community residents. Environment and Behavior 39 (1): 75-105.
[11] Loukas, A., L., Vasiliades and J., Tzabiras 2008. Climate change effects on drought severity. Adv. Geosci. 17: 23–29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-4-719-2004
[12] Manning, R. 2001. Programs that work. Visitor experience and resource protection: A framework for managing the carrying capacity of national parks. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration 19(1): 93–108. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.17662
[13] Martinis, A. 2020. Assessing the Environmental Policy of a Natural Protected Area Using Visitor Opinions. Case Study of Parnassos National Park, Greece. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism 3(43): 501-512. DOI:10.14505/jemt.v11.3(43).01
[14] Martinis, A., K., Kabassi, C., Dimitriadou and G., Karris 2017. Pupils' environmental awareness of natural protected areas: The case of Zakynthos Island. Applied Environmental Education and Communication. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/1533015X.2017. 1366883
[15] Martinis, A., S., Mazi, and Ch., Minotou 2015. Sustainable Development and Environmental Education in Natura 2000 areas. A Vision of the Mountain of Pantokratoras for Corfu and the Local Community. 6th International Conference on Information, Intelligence, Systems and Applications (IISA) 2015: 1-6 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/304413203
[16] Minotou, Ch. 2012. “Protected Areas and People with Disabilities – Special Environmental Education”, Ph.D. dissertation, University of Ioannina, Greece, 2012. (in Greek)
[17] Minotou, Ch., I., Pantis, S., Paraskevopoulos, and A., Mniestris 2007. "Acoustic ecology and education on the protection and conservation of ecosystems as tools of environmental education and familiarization with ecosystems and soundscapes for the disabled", 5th Greek Conference idactics of the Natural Sciences and New Technologies in Education, Ioannina, Greece, 2007.
[18] Moyle, B.D., et al. 2017. Assessing preferences of potential visitors for nature-based experiences in protected areas. Tourism Management 62: 29–41. DOI: https//:doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2017.03.010
[19] Newman, T. P. and R., Fernandes 2016. A re-assessment of factors associated with environmental concern and behavior using the 2010 General Social Survey. Environmental Education Research 22(2): 153-175. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2014.999227
[20] Panagopoulos, Y., and E., Dimitriou 2020. A Large-Scale Nature-Based Solution in Agriculture for Sustainable Water Management: The Lake Karla Case. Sustainability 2020, 12: 6761; DOI:https//:doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000428
[21] Petrosillo, I., G. Zurlini, M.E. Corlianò, N. Zaccarelli, and M. Dadamo 2007. Tourist perception of recreational environment and management in a marine protected area. Landscape and Urban Planning 79: 29–37. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2006.02.017
[22] Poudel, S. and G. P., Nyaupane 2016. Exploring the Roles of Tour Guides in Trekking Tourism. Tourism l and Research Association: Advancing Tourism Research Globally, 47.
[23] Razzaq, A. S. A., M. Y., Hadi, M. Z., Mustaa, A., Hamzah, Z., Khalifah and N.H., Mohamad 2011. Local unity participation in homestay program development in Malaysia. Journal of Modern Accounting and Auditing 7(12): 1418-1429.
[24] Richards, G. 1996. Cultural Tourism in Europe. Wallingford, CAB International.
[25] Schmitz, M.F., I., De Aranzabal, and F.D., Pineda 2007. Spatial analysis of visitor preferences in the outdoor recreational niche of Mediterranean cultural landscapes. Environmental Conservation 34: 300–312. DOI:https://doi:org/10.1017/S037689290700424
[26] Shamuganathan, S. and M., Karpudewan 2015. Modeling Environmental Literacy of Malaysian Pre-ersity Students. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education 10(5): 757-771. DOI:https://doi:org/10.12973/ijese.2015.264a
[27] Švajda, J., Masny, M., Korony, S., Mezei, A., Machar, I., Taczanowska, K. 2018. Visitor profiling using characteristics of socio-demographic and spatial behavior as tools to support the management of protected mountain areas. Geografie, 123, 4, 461–478.
[28] Szell, Andrea and Lucius F. Hallett. 2013. Attitudes and Perceptions of Local Residents and Tourists toward the Protected Area of Retezat National Park, Romania. International journal of humanities and social science, 3: 18-34.
[29] Teksoz, T. G., J. W., Boone, O. Y., Tuzun and C., Oztekin 2014. An evaluation of the environmental literacy of preservice teachers in Turkey through Rasch analysis. Environmental Education Research 20(2): 202-227. DOI: https://doi:org/10.1515/jtes-2015-000
[30] Trakala, G. 2023. The promotion of the natural/cultural heritage and the environmental education and information of citizens, challenge for the protection and sustainable development. The case of Karla’s Lake – Mavrovouni mountain. Master Thesis. Ionian University, School of Enviroment, Enviroment Department.
[31] Trakala, G., A., Tsiroukis, and A. Martinis 2023. Eco Cultural Development of a Restored Lake Environment: The Case Study of Lake Karla (Thessaly, Greece). Land 2023, 12: 1227. DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061227
[32] Tsonis, L.J. 2008. Ecotourism Development: Government, Industry and Community Linkages. Proceedings from the Asia Pacific Tourism Association (APTA) 2008 Conference, 9-12 July 2008, Bangkok, Thailand.
[33] Westerkamp, H. 2011. Exploring Balance and Focus in Acoustic Ecology. Soundscape. The Journal of Acoustic Ecology, 11(I): 6-13.
[34] Zalidis, G.C., S., Katsavouni, G., Bilas and S., Chatzigiannakis, 1999. Suggested Interventions to Restore Sustainably the Karla Wetland; Greek Biotope/Wetland Centre: Thessaloniki, Greece, 1999. (In Greek)
[35] Zhong, L., J., Deng, Z., Song, and P., Ding 2011. Research on environmental impacts of tourism in China: Progress and prospect. Journal of Environmental Management 92: 2972-2983. DOI:http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.07.011
[36] Management Authority of Lake Karla. Available online: http://www.fdkarlas.gr/Default.aspx
Published
2023-09-01
How to Cite
TRAKALA, Georgia et al.
Sustainable Development and Environmental Tourism. The Case of Lake Karla – Thessaly, Greece.
Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, [S.l.], v. 14, n. 5, p. 2426 - 2439, sep. 2023.
ISSN 2068-7729.
Available at: <https://journals.aserspublishing.eu/jemt/article/view/8029>. Date accessed: 04 dec. 2024.
doi: https://doi.org/10.14505/jemt.v14.5(69).24.
Section
Article
Copyright© 2024 The Author(s). Published by ASERS Publishing 2024. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of CC-BY 4.0 license.