Sustainable Tourism Development in Natural Protected Areas: Evidence from Apulia

The natural protected areas of a territory represent an important instrument of environmental policy and, if properly exploited, an important added value resource for the European Regions. The integrated approach of environmental, cultural and social policies, promoted by regional and local authorities, has guaranteed a mutual growth of the city and the environment, implementing the attractiveness of urban areas in relation to the possibility of living in rural areas. The issue of accessibility, however, is often underestimated and does not meet the primary interest of local authorities and citizens, due to the difficulty in combining efficiency and respect for the environment, when transport policies are promoted. Positive results are obtained from the integrated city-countryside approach of the Apulia Region. In this framework, this article aims to contribute to the definition of correct economic development policies for three different natural protected areas in the Apulia Region: Parco Nazionale del Gargano, Parco Nazionale dell’Alta Murgia, and Riserva Nazionale di Torre Guaceto. Using data collected from regional and national reports statistics, we investigate the status and policies activated by these protected areas focusing on different aspects: transport services, territorial development, tourism, and growth.