ECOCULTURAL HERITAGE, TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT POLICIES. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VALORISATION OF THE CROSS BORDER MOUNTAINS OF THE CORDILLERA CENTRAL

Mountain areas have witnessed a growing Eco-cultural and touristic appreciation due to their natural and cultural resources and the perception of integrity and authenticity associated with them. However, in Portugal, the mountains have stayed away from specific territorial strategy interventions as well as guidelines for concerted tourism development. It appears that the practices of recreation and leisure are becoming wider, which implies new forms of tourism and environmental planning. The traditional economic structure of the Cordillera Central Mountains has been uncoordinated with the reconfiguration of lifestyles, while preserving many of the elements belonging to their cultural identity and heritage, with motivations and connotations preferably related to tourism activities. This has been a dynamic factor of economic and social regeneration, promoting services that improve the welfare and value of existing resources. However, there is no integrated territorial management and tourism policy. In this context, the aim of the research is to highlight the Ecocultural value of these territories and the absence of concerted strategies of articulation and public management of these border mountains and tourist activities associated.