Tourism and nature
When I was asked to tell the most current issues in Responsible Tourism at the moment by a Finnish TV journalist I talked about overtourism, climate change and flying, compensating, carrying capacity, new nature based luxury, the conservation of nature – and the footprints we are leaving while travelling, not only in nature but also in local communities.
I am lucky not to be alone with my thoughts as I cooperate in some of the Mood of Finland concepts with a Spanish geography, Javier Pedrosa (Iworu and Geoface). Javier has finished Master degree in Territorial Planning and Environmental Management in University of Barcelona and his Master Thesis about ”the proposal of an Ecotourism model based on the landscape units of the protected area” has been accepted in July 2019.
Responsible Tourism is a complex combination of ecological, economical, social and cultural development and action – where the local operators and people should always be involved. It also makes us remember ethical issues as equality and accessibility in all its senses. When talking about Responsible Tourism, it´s not only about nature but as we all know nature needs our special care and attention.
The Local Agenda 21 advocates a decentralized but concerted sustainable development, in which a proactive response is required from the local government, since it is the towns and cities that know best what their own environmental, social and economic interests are
Interpretation of landscape
Javier is geography, entrepreneur and has been working for many years in Tourism Industry. He has been working also as a Tourleader in many countries, including Finland and other Nordic countries. He has stayed longer periods in several places having always special interest in Scientific Tourism. Last Summer (2019) he stayed in Iceland.

I hereby share some sentences of the conclusions of Javier´s Master Thesis – the ones I found very interesting, also from the Finnish Tourism perspective.
The interpretation of the landscape as an ecotourism activity allows to increase awareness and understanding whenever the correct didactic practice is applied.
When the superimposed spheres (lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, troposphere) and the historical chronological thread (from the origin of space to our days) are combined, the speaker and the receiver will have better understanding of the area and be able to discourse respectively.
This might be my favorite:
The interpretation of the landscape is one way of educating and sensitizing the citizens (both local and visitors).
Landscapes can and should take a greater role in the management of protected areas and claim themselves as an image of territory, image of locals living there, and part of locals´ identity.
What is your favorite landscape
In Finland we have beautiful national landscapes to take care of. I have been asked to describe the landscape which most touches my feelings. They are several ones and one of them is a sea view in Spain, not only because of the view but also because of the sound, smell, feeling and the memories.
We always go back to those places where we once loved the life