Algarve’s Mediterranean landscape and flora: The role of scientific tourism Let’s get involved ! through a university volunteering project (Portugal)
Cláudia Henriques (PhD) Algarve University – Portugal [email protected] CERMOSEM - Domaine Olivier de Serres – 14 th September 2018 OBJECTIVE
• To present a volunteering scientific tourism project developed by the University of Algarve. • The project intends to offer free guided walking tours to tourists through the Algarve mountains (Mediterranean Landscape) • Thematic: Mediterranean flora in Algarve Mountains Tourism: Portugal Competitiveness Tourism Policy - Portugal
EU * Portugal (Socio Economic Planning)
PENT T2020 E2027
• Visão • Proposta de Valor • Objetivos estratégicos Scientific Tourism Framework - Portugal
• Culture and Science Programm • Research and Innovation Regional Strategy • Law Framework
1 - Valorização das atividades de investigação e desenvolvimento (I&D)nos sectores público e privado 2 - Sensibilização dos intervenientes do sector (hotelaria, agências de viagens, agências de promoção) na perceção deste segmento de turismo O “Turismo e Lazer” e o “Mar, Pescas e Aquicultura” - 3 - Identificação das autarquias com potencial para atrair turistas neste considerados como setores consolidados, e o âmbito e envolvimento das mesmas na estratégia nacional de turismo “Agroalimentar, Agro-transformação, Floresta e 4 - Elaboração, com as universidades públicas e privadas, de um plano que contribua para atrair alunos estrangeiros Biotecnologia Verde”, as “TIC e Indústrias Culturais e 5 - Desenvolvimento de um programa de parcerias internacionais em ciência, Criativas”, as “Energias Renováveis” e a “Saúde, Bem-Estar tecnologia e ensino superior e Ciências da Vida” - como áreas emergentes, são as 6 - Promoção da qualidade das instituições e da investigação em Portugal “pedras preciosas” em que o Algarve tem que apostar para 7 - Organização de eventos científicos internacionais garantir uma especialização inteligente. 8 - Colaboração com investigadores e quadros qualificados estrangeiros, facilitando e reforçando a sua relação com instituições científicas e empresas em Portugal Algarve University Algarve University The University of Algarve appears for the first time in the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings 2018 ranking, which analyzes the performance of higher education institutions created 50 years ago or less. Among the six Portuguese universities that integrate this international ranking, the UAlg obtains the maximum classification in the indicator that evaluates the international projection.
The list of THE only indicates the exact place of the institutions until the 100th position. The UAlg debuted in this ranking between positions 151 and 200. This is the seventh year of publication of THE's assessment, which in this edition includes 250 institutions from 55 different countries.
The University has four campuses: •The Penha Campus; The Gambelas Campus; The Saúde Campus; The Portimão Campus
•School of The Penha Campus is situated in the centre of the city of Faro. There are three Schools: Education and Communication; •School of Management, Hotel and Tourism; •Institute of Engineering.
The Gambelas Campus is situated 6 km from Faro and 2 km from Faro International Airport. There are three Faculties on this campus: •Faculty of Economics; Faculty of Human and Social Sciences; •Faculty of Sciences and Technology; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine.
The Saúde Campus is situated at the entrance of city of Faro. New facilities were built for the Faro School of Nursing, incorporated into the University of Algarve in June 2003, now called the Faro School of Health (Escola Superior de Saúde - ESS) in order to adopt the new health science degree courses. Algarve University and Volunteering
GRUPO DE VOLUNTARIADO UALG V+ ORGANIZA SEMANA DE ATIVIDADES EM PROL DA COMUNIDADE Algarve Region – A Mediterranean Region
The Mediterranean landscape and respective ecosystems occupy only 1.2% of the land surface and, as a result of its climatic characteristics, are geographically well (31º - 40º north and south), in 5 disjointed regions of the globe, on Western countries of the continents: California, Chile, Southern Africa, Southwest Australia and Mediterranean Sea. "The Mediterranean sea extends about 3 800 km from east to west, from the extreme of Portugal to the coast of Lebanon, and about 1 000 km north to south, from Italy to Morocco and Libya". The Mediterranean region covers several countries (France, Portugal, Italy, Spain) or in full (Greece, Malta, Cyprus), highlighting many similarities in topographic and climatic conditions with influence on the fauna and flora of the region “ (CEDGA, 2010: 3).
Mountain Monchique Mountain Caldeirão Algarve Region – Main Tourist Characteristics
2017 Nº Overnight Nº Guests Growth Overnight stays Overnight stays Seasonality stays 2017/16 stays/according according to by (%) category of loadging country of overnight residence stays (%)
Portugal 57 408 543 20 613 360 8,8 1º) Hoteis(66,6%) 1º)Port (27,6) 2,31 2º)Hot-Ap(13,5%) 2º) RU (16,2) 3º)Ap.Turis(7,5%) 3º)Alem(9,8) Norte 7 402 145 4 100 902 7,8 1º) Hoteis(88,7%) 1º)Port(42,6) 1,63 2º)Pensões(4,6%) 2º)Espanh(12,2) • Main tourist Product: Sun & Sea 3º)Hot-Ap(1,5%) 3º)Franç(7,9) Lisboa 14 283 582 6 176 156 10,2 1º) Hoteis(88,1%) 1º)Port(21,6) 1,61 • Algarve: The "Last Mediterranean Riviera" (Orlando Ribeiro; in 2º)Hot-Ap(4,7%) 2º)Fran(8,9) Arruda, 1999: 21) 3º)Pensões(3,5%) 3º)Esp (8,3) • Geographical characteristics: division on the coast, barrocal and serra Algarve 19 045 318 4 136 164 2,4 1º) Hoteis(41,3%) 1º)RU(31,6) 4,73 (mountain). 2º)Hot-Ap(24,2%) 2º)Port(20,9) 3º)Ap.Turis(21,8%) 3ºAlem(10,3) Algarve Tourism – New Products ESGHT/UALG Scientific Tourism Project and Students Volunteering
Let’s discover Algarve Flora!
The Algarve region, as a Mediterranean landscape, has potential for scientific tourism, namely through flora interpretation. ESGHT/UALG Scientific Tourism Project and Students Volunteering
Let’s discover Algarve Flora!
• 25 000 species of flowering plants (representing about 10% of all known plants in the world, more than half are endemic to region) (CEDGA, 2010: 3). ESGHT/UALG Scientific Tourism Project and Students Volunteering
Let’s discover Algarve Flora …. with LOVE ! Plants of “Love IsIsland” of “Lusiadas” - Camões “Love Island” of Camões (Canto IX Lusiadas de Camões: Promote a relationship between culture and nature (landscape / flora), where the cultural dimension of the landscape emerges, in order to potentiate a memorable tourism cultural experience in a natural environment lemon Tree; lemon balm; pear tree; lily; hyacinth; …. ESGHT/UALG Scientific Tourism Project and Students Volunteering
Let’s discover Algarve Flora ……..with LOVE This volunteering project developed by the University of Algarve intends to offer free guided tours to tourists in Algarve mountains (Mediterranean Landscape). The guides are students from the University of Algarve that have previously benefit from a free course where they have learned about Algarvian Flora, and how to create interpretative contents for tourists. ESGHT/UALG Scientific Tourism Project and Students Volunteering
Let’s discover Algarve Flora ……..with LOVE ! Project Framework - The assumption is that the Project is a way of: • deepening the relationship between tourists, the local community, students and places. • sharing scientific knowledge about Algarvian (Mediterranean) Flora and Landscape that can enhance the tourist experience in the region. At the same time, it contributes to the integration of the natural, cultural, human environment and diversification of coastal tourism products (namely the “sun and sea”). • interconnect Algarve university with the region sustainable tourism development in rural areas • potentiate interconnections with partner organizations that understand the importance of sustainability and work towards achieving long term goals of tourism product diversification ESGHT/UALG Scientific Tourism Project – Students Volunteering
Let’s discover Algarve Flora!
Let’s get involved! Impacts and achievements … For Resident Community, Tourists and Students • A student volunteer could get involved with academic life, region and simultaneously better his personal potential. • Students most likely have a strong interest in regional cultural and natural heritage and environmental conservation, so sustainability and ethical values are important. let's get involved! Scientific tourism course – Mediterranean Flora in the Algarve (Unit: Tourism Economics) • The aim is to: • promote a volunteering project that empower students (as resident and belonging to an academic community) • monitor the effects to ensure that the course could have a positive impact and have achievable, sustainable long-term goals • Creating general awareness about the Mediterranean flora in Algarve Region Course: Contents: Flora in the Algarve Region/Tourist interpretation about Algarve Flora Target: Students and Tourists Results: a) Creation of interpretive contentes for tourists b) Offer guided tours to tourists in the Algarve Mountains (Mediterranean Landscape) c) Scientific guided tours: thematic: Algarvian Flora d) Valorize tourist knowledge and experience in Algarve region Thank You
Claudia Henriques [email protected]