The Perception of Cultural Ecosystem Services by Tourists in Brazilian Protected Areas

Protected areas play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, nature tourism, and the provision of ecosystem services, with cultural ecosystem services shaping key human-nature interactions. Understanding how visitors perceive these protected areas, whether positively or negatively, is essential for supporting their conservation. This study investigates tourists' perceptions of cultural ecosystem services in 27 Strictly Protected Areas in southeastern Brazil, based on TripAdvisor reviews. Nouns were categorized into four main aspects: structural (physical attributes), aesthetic (nature experiences), sociocultural (culture, religiosity, education) and recreational (leisure activities). Adjectives were classified as positive or negative. Positive adjectives were predominantly associated with all aspects, particularly aesthetics and structure. Structural aspects were more frequently associated with negative descriptors, while aesthetic and sociocultural aspects received fewer negative associations than expected by chance. Additionally, sociocultural and recreational aspects also received little attention. These results suggest that tourists are mainly attracted to the natural aesthetic qualities of protected areas, followed by structural features. This positive relationship between tourists and nature has implications for strengthening conservation efforts, emphasizing the value of natural beauty and well-maintained infrastructure. Furthermore, incorporating sociocultural elements into management practices could foster stronger collaboration between managers and local communities, promoting a more inclusive and sustainable approach to protected area management. Ultimately, the study highlights the importance of integrating natural, structural, and cultural elements into conservation strategies to improve both ecological preservation and local community involvement.