Turismo sostenible y desarrollo local en el suroeste ibérico

Abstract

Since the middle of the 20th century, rural spaces specialized in primary activities have entered a competitiveness crisis due to the lack of adaptation to the changes of an increasingly global environment and the inability to respond to the dominant development processes, triggering a structural crisis, which increases in the most peripheral, marginal and disconnected areas. As a way of reconnecting with the world, new activities, which are added to the traditional ones, are developed in these rural spaces in the context of the desired multifunctionality and diversification, considering the conservation, protection and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage. Thus, in terms of multifunctionality, rural spaces incorporate recreational and tourist activities. The expectations created are generally high, understanding tourism as an instrument for sustainability and development and even as a panacea. In fact, community policies have greatly influenced the promotion of tourist activities. However, the results are often limited, since obstacles are encountered to the development of new activities and, sometimes, the sustainability and well-being of the host communities are compromised. This research employes the case analysis using a mixed methodology. It is focused on two rural spaces in the Iberian southwest: three Natural Parks (Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche; Sierra Norte de Sevilla; Sierra de Hornachuelos) in Sierra Morena (1989) and a post-mining rural space (Riotinto Mining Basin). The results show how stakeholders recognise in the sustainability a purpose, but not all of them understand the same thing when talking about sustainability and they focus on some dimensions over others and not on their interconnection. Although the contribution of tourism to local and rural development is highlighted, the expectations are generally not met, due to the absence of a model of governance and the predominance of competitive relationships. The lack of participation and local empowerment are examples of the paradox of conservation, with the development of non-participatory processes. In short, stakeholders' perceptions differ from theory and the data do not necessarily coincide with their perception. In conclusion, peripheral rural areas have a bleak future, with limited opportunities. In the context of a structural crisis in traditional activities, the conservation and enhancement of natural and cultural heritage allows them to compete and generate opportunities for diversification through tourism to achieve local development. Rural development policies (Local Action Groups) have been the key in the development of the tourism offer. However, the accumulation of protection figures, although it favors tourism, does not guarantee conservation. More than three decades after the declaration of Natural Parks, tourism has been developed, but the heritage process (identity) has not been achieved, and sustainability and local and rural development continue to be an issue for a few. Furthermore, the concentration of activities fails to alleviate territorial inequalities, and even, sometimes it reinforces them with internal and external factors conditioning the development of tourism, which comes into competition with traditional activities and threatens to become a monoculture. In the end, the results invite to a reflection on tourism, sustainability and development in protected natural and heritage spaces rather than optimism, since tourism must be a key element, but not the only one, since it is necessary to integrate traditional activities and guarantee the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, from a realistic approach to the possibilities and limitations.