Characterization of Sports Nature Practitioners. Analyze the Impact in Local Areas

Abstract

Nature Sports (NS) is one of the fastest growing sectors in active tourism. The different scenarios have constraints that determine the quality of the activities, such as planning, safety or specific technical knowledge. This study aimed to analyze the practitioners of these activities, trying to gauge their characteristics, challenges and benefits associated with the practice. It also wanted to investigate how these activities affect local territories in environmental, economic and socio-cultural terms and try to assess their role in the sustainability and development of these regions. The sample consisted of 305 participants, informal and occasional practitioners of nature sports (40.7% female and 59.3% male). The data was collected using an online questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 29.0 software. The most representative level of education (n=121) was higher education (degree), accounting for 39.7% of the sample, followed by secondary education with 24.9% of respondents. The participants in the study lead an active lifestyle by participating in outdoor sports activities and also mention that they would like to join in nature sports more often. Mountain biking (n=86) is the activity most frequently practiced by men, followed by Trail running (n=64), while for women trail running (n=60) and hiking (n=52) are the most popular activities. Promoting this type of sport is perceived as “positive” or “very positive”, with 85.5% of the sample attesting to this position. Concerning the repercussions of practicing sports in local areas, it stands out that the respondents believe that it promotes the preservation of natural areas.