Ecotourism and nature tourism are becoming increasingly important. These types represent 20% of world tourism and 7% of the total expenditure for international tourist travel. This was revealed by the International Ecotourism Association (TIES). On this basis, the Spanish Ecotourism Association reports that in Spain the number of visitors to natural destinations (protected areas such as national parks, natural parks, geoparks, biosphere reserves, Nature Trail 2000 and so on) welcomed over 31 million visitors in 2019.
Most of these are located in rural areas, many in areas of Spain known as empty Spain, i.e. depopulated areas where ecotourism offers opportunities for social and economic development.
In general, the “ecotourist” knows the area they visit and in many cases 64% of respondents chose their destination on the advice of friends and family. There are about 27 areas in Spain with 400 tourism companies certified according to the European Chart for Sustainable Tourism. There are over 1,500 companies in the Spanish Ecotourism Association.
The ecotourist profile is between the ages of 39 and 65, has a high level of education, a medium-high income and travels at least once a year to ecotourism destinations. They are not necessarily specialists and travel to visit landscapes and villages. Areas of particular interest include Castile-La Mancha, La Gomera in the Canary Islands, Catalonia (Costa Brava and inland), Andalusia, Asturias and the Pyrenees.
Ecotourism in Iberia is also discussed on the SoyEcoturista website and on the Spain.Info portal.
Baia Holiday: almost completed the Spa inside the Camping Village Cavallino