Theoretical foundations of tourist valorisation

Abstract

Tourist valorisation is an integral part of tourism and geographic research into relevant natural and anthropogenic values, which are important for the develop­ment of domestic and international tourism in a certain place, a tourist site, a region or a country. It is a complex appraisal of the above values and is relevant for the science of tourism and its operational activities. It is considered complementarily with contemporary spatial planning and environmental protection and enhancement, which are in themselves the basis and framework of domestic and international tourist movement patterns. Specifically, the Madrid-based World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) assures that its member states are made aware of the importance of tourist valorisation. Certain elements, factors, methods and procedures, instrumental to the functioning of tourism, and particularly to its development, are taken into account in the process of tourist valorisation, spatial planning and environmental protection. Therefore, this is not solely a scientific approach, as there is an applicative side to it, too. Tourist val­orisation is considered in scientific projects, tourism economics, tourism-related mar­keting, selection of development sites for hospitality facilities, definition of their size, seasonal or all-year-round activities. It is the subject of social and spatial planning and investment in new facilities and refurbishment of the existing ones. In short, tourist valorisation is the qualitative classification and ranking of natural and anthropogenic tourist values, which may be defined as local, regional, national, European and global.

Keywords

• tourism geography
• tourist valorisation
• spatial planning
• World Tourism Organization
• natural and anthropogenic values
• methods
• elements
• factors