National Parks and Landscape Commodification: New Challenges for Nature-based Tourism in Patagonia

Abstract

Summary Some of the most important tourism destinations in North Patagonia are located inside or adjacent to National Parks, especially around a circuit known as the Lakes Corridor that runs along the Andes through more than 600 km. Even though the main attractions are in the protected areas, accommodation and other services are provided in the towns or cities nearby. As a result of the intensification of tourism and recent inward migrations, the region has experienced urban growth and the emergence or increase of social disputes around land use, environmental issues, and local residential needs. In this case study, we analyze this process, focusing on destinations from the Lakes Corridor and paying special attention to the COVID-19 pandemic effects. The main objective is to understand the characteristics, actors involved, and tensions that emerge in urban development related to this specific kind of tourism based on the positive valorization of nature. This case study is part of an investigation regarding the configuration of tourist landscapes in North Patagonia. Methodologically, it involves the construction of data through observation and interviews, as well as qualitative analysis of different sources, like promotion material and public documentation regarding territorial planning. Information © The Author 2024