<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Recent research indicates that more and more often tourists use the Madeira Natural Park (MNP) area to develop their physical activity, through mountain hiking and Levada walks. This study aims at identifying tourists’ characteristics and to understand how visitors live their experience. A survey was carried out at the end of two different activities and the sample was divided into two groups (G1: Levada Walks in the Laurissilva; G2: Walks outside the Laurissilva). The data was collected immediately after the activity ended (total: 293; male: 124; female: 169) and people were asked about: 1. Information available at the start of the activity; 2. Interaction and attention demand; 3. Natural area visited. The data indicates that the Madeira tourists have higher education, many are students and teachers, the majority being European. Our tourists are well informed about the natural environment and more than 90% agreed that it was ideal for aesthetic enjoyment and inspiring exploration. Our findings can help the tourist agents to improve their products, encourage the agencies to attract new markets outside Europe and can work as a basis for providing more guidance in the MNP, promoting a higher ‘<italic>flow experience</italic>’.</p></abstract>

Recent research indicates that more and more often tourists use the Madeira Natural Park (MNP) area to develop their physical activity, through mountain hiking and Levada walks. This study aims at identifying tourists’ characteristics and to understand how visitors live their experience. A survey was carried out at the end of two different activities and the sample was divided into two groups (G1: Levada Walks in the Laurissilva; G2: Walks outside the Laurissilva). The data was collected immediately after the activity ended (total: 293; male: 124; female: 169) and people were asked about: 1. Information available at the start of the activity; 2. Interaction and attention demand; 3. Natural area visited. The data indicates that the Madeira tourists have higher education, many are students and teachers, the majority being European. Our tourists are well informed about the natural environment and more than 90% agreed that it was ideal for aesthetic enjoyment and inspiring exploration. Our findings can help the tourist agents to improve their products, encourage the agencies to attract new markets outside Europe and can work as a basis for providing more guidance in the MNP, promoting a higher ‘flow experience’.

Hikes and Levadas in Madeira: Characterizing Visitors and their experience

Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada

European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Hikes and Levadas in Madeira: Characterizing Visitors and their experience"}

Recent research indicates that more and more often tourists use the Madeira Natural Park (MNP) area to develop their physical activity, through mountain hiking...

Hikes and Levadas in Madeira: Characterizing Visitors and their experience

Article Category: Research Article

Publicado en línea: 26 nov 2020

Páginas: 154 - 164

Recibido: 03 dic 2019

Aceptado: 21 abr 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejthr-2020-0013

Palabras clave
Active tourism, Flow experience, Nature hikes, Levadas, Sports tourism

© 2020 João Prudente et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Hikes and Levadas in Madeira: Characterizing Visitors and their experience

Article Category: Research Article

Publicado en línea: 26 nov 2020

Páginas: 154 - 164

Recibido: 03 dic 2019

Aceptado: 21 abr 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejthr-2020-0013

Palabras claveActive tourism, Flow experience, Nature hikes, Levadas, Sports tourism

© 2020 João Prudente et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
Active tourism, Flow experience, Nature hikes, Levadas, Sports tourism