Abstract
This research aims to reflect on the importance of inland surface waters for the development of local communities and their potential to foster tourism and leisure activities, promoting differentiated tourism products that project this inland tourist destination. It seeks to inquire into new business opportunities, while simultaneously reflecting on ways of controlling uses and issues of preservation and environmental sustainability. The study is developed in the Serra da Estrela territory, framing the destination and establishing an approach to the evolution of recreational fishing and its contributions to the strengthening of tourism and leisure, given the exceptional conditions of water mass supply and its environmental value for an activity that has an intense relationship with nature. The purpose is also to establish lines of research to be followed and methodologies to be implemented for a better knowledge of this activity and identify action strategies for the future.
TopFluvial Waters And Their Recreational And Sporting Functions − Fishing In Inland Waters
Water is a valuable resource and can be the basis for the implementation and development of tourism, recreation and sports activities, constituting an asset in the promotion of the destination and generating new capacities to increase demand throughout the year. Water-based tourism activities are developed in connection with adjacent territorial areas, promoting a strong relationship with these in terms of existing infrastructures, population settlements, heritage elements and forms of occupation. The recreational and sporting practices based on water resources use the hydro-tourism potential to diversify the offer and foster activities with different intensities of water use, from contemplation and bathing to sporting activities of greater physical intensity (Bătinaș & Sorocovschi, 2012).
Key Terms in this Chapter
Fluvial Resources: A set of surface or underground water reservoirs, such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, canals, marshes, and other aquifers, which have different functions and uses and which require careful management in view of their importance and interest for the population.
Serra da Estrela: The main mountain in Portugal, with a unique geography due to its altitude, geological and geomorphological evolution, constituting an important nature tourism destination, classified as a UNESCO World Geopark.
Fishing Tourism: Tourism developed by fishermen who go to destinations where superficial fluvial resources - sea, lakes, dams, rivers, among others - are home to fish populations that provide an experience in contact with nature and consume varied local goods and services.