Sustainable Tourism Law

454 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM LAW Thus, the methodology has designed questionnaires that inquire about perceptions and consensus within the stakeholders (public and private) in a tourist territory in terms of this three-dimensional perspective of sustainability. Perceptions are understood as instruments of political evaluation and control (Stiglitz, 2012). Also, a systemic-functional perspective was adopted regarding sustainability regulation as a “balance of opposites” between durability of structures, long-term commitments, longer duration of rights and flexibility in the adaptation to the local context of exercise standards, control of rights and duties in order to improve functionality (Machado, 2010). Consequently, this allowed the creation of better local regulation plans that implement the principles of the WSST+20. The questionnaires focused on the perceptions regarding the impacts of surfing activity, namely its strengths and weaknesses, as well as threats and opportunities in the social, environmental and economic dimensions. Participants were also asked about entities and resources to be involved in the development of surfing. In May 2016, the invitation of the Aljezur City Council, whether in person or by e-mail, resulted in nine public entities participating in the study. The entities have different levels of intervention and power: national (e.g., Portugal Tourism Institute), regional (e.g. Commission for the Coordination and Development of the Algarve Region), and local (e.g. Aljezur Municipality). This allowed a plural, independent and dynamic participation of diverse visions and perspectives. Surf schools operating in Aljezur were also invited. The questionnaire was applied in open invitation sessions organized by the City Council of Aljezur or, in some cases, by one of the members of the research team in the headquarters of the entities. Of the 31 surfing schools licensed to operate in the municipality of Aljezur, 24 have participated in the study, covering 77% of the licensed schools. Participants were also asked about entities and resources that would be involved in the development of surfing. Other key stakeholders, namely beach users (surfers and swimmers) were surveyed. The questionnaires covered different dimensions in the three- dimensional sustainability perspective already mentioned (e.g. practices, motivation, satisfaction, safety, infrastructure and planning, municipal intervention, conflicts). These questionnaires were translated and applied in the Portuguese, English, German and French languages. The data collected from the questionnaires (of surfers and swimmers) was performed in person, based on a random selection of the respondents present