Promoting ecotourism through networks: case studies in the Balearic Islands

Abstract

For over four decades, the Balearic Archipelago has experienced excessive pressure from tourism activities on its resource. Using a case approach, this article focuses on three networks that promote ecotourism in the Balearics. Alcúdia Network is recognised for its actions on environmental education and training programmes, management of wastes, and traffic and noise control. Similarly, the Network of Sustainable Hotels of the Balearic promotes green environments in the hotel establishments and serves as an engine of sustainable development. Network of Calvià focuses on indigenous development through ensuring active participation of hosts, control of tourism quality, and sustainable use of resources. The study also identifies the measures used to promote ecotourism in the Balearics including special laws for Natural Areas of Special Interest and Rural Areas of Landscape Interest, taxes, green cards, and sustainable discounts. Yet, ecotourism as a primary product in these Islands has not been in high demand. Ecotourism operations could spread throughout if the networks could be formed all over the Islands. However, developing networks costs time and material resources, but makes the destination more attractive; therefore, stakeholders should look at the resources incurred as investment. Finally, ecotourism can be practical if stakeholders avoid politicising the ecological policies.

Keywords:

• ecotourism
• networks
• Balearic Islands
• Mallorca

Acknowledgement

The author is grateful to the Department of Applied Economics, University of Balearic Islands, for the financial support. To the anonymous referees, she extends her appreciation for their constructive comments.

Notes

GOB is an NGO founded in 1973, with the main objective of environmental conservation, and the study and dissemination of nature and the environment of the Balearics. INESTUR, which is a public institution, works through the Institute of Tourist Quality (IQT), Research and Tourist Technologies (CITTIB), and Investments for the Improvement of the Tourist Environment (IMET) to regulate and oversee tourism quality and quantity in the Archipelago.

European Historic Walled Town projects involved Chepstow and Conwy (Wales), Naarden (Holland), and Alcúdia (Mallorca). See Bruce et al. (2001).