Sustainable Tourism, Economic Growth and Employment—The Case of the Wine Routes of Spain

Abstract

Tourism has become a priority in national and regional development policies and is considered a source of economic growth, particularly in rural areas. Nowadays, wine tourism is an important form of tourism and has become a local development tool for rural areas. Regional tourism development studies based on wine tourism have a long history in several countries such as the US and Australia, but are more recent in Europe. Although Spain is a leading country in the tourism industry, with an enormous wine-growing tradition, the literature examining the economic impact of wine tourism in Spanish economy is scarce. In an attempt to fill this gap, the main objective of this paper is to analyze the impact of wine tourism on economic growth and employment in Spain. More specifically, by applying panel data techniques, we study the economic impact of tourism in nine Spanish wine routes in the period from 2008 to 2018. Our results suggest that tourism in these wine routes had a positive effect on economic growth. However, we do not find clear evidence of a positive effect on employment generation.

Interaction as a Central Element of Co-Creative Wine Tourism Experiences—Evidence from Bairrada, a Portuguese Wine-Producing Region

“…Secondly, the territory's cultural and natural resources are also a central part of this co-creation, with traditions, local cuisine, wine landscapes and the natural surrounding not only serving as a stage for the experience, but rather being an essential ingredient, with elements visitors physically and actively engage with. As a distinctive and regional product, wine can contribute to fostering rural territories' economy, enhancing cultural and heritage local traits and promoting conscious sustainable practices that can add value to these territories and, consequently, to the related tourism experience [11].…”

“…Besides the experience of the wine as a product and local culture and lifestyles, the landscape and local resources are also part of this sensorially enriched experience [1,11,24]. As a quality product totally associated with wine, local gastronomy and traditional culinary practices are also relevant and contribute to reinforcing the authenticity and uniqueness of the experience [3,25,26].…”

“…Winescape encompasses the wines, the vineyards, wine production, the wineries and infrastructure, the natural landscape, staff, heritage, artefacts and architecture [36]. The aesthetic dimension of the experience is most important in the holistic tourism experience [2,18]; the visually remarkable landscape with its cultural peculiarities and natural resources are key components [11]. Typical wine landscape features seem to be attractive, with the vineyards' design being of particular aesthetical appeal [3,35].…”

“…Wine tourism is frequently associated with rural areas and agriculture; it is becoming a vital part of the economic vitality of these territories [5,10,11]. The potential of local wine production may also be enhanced through wine tourism experiences, helping to reveal the region's wine quality and various varieties, stimulate wine and tourism business and employment, attract new investment and contribute to the region's tourism appeal and overall development [4,5].…”

Social Media Use of Small Wineries in Alsace: Resources and Motivations Analysis

“…Wine professionals recognise digital marketing tools, including websites, newsletters, and SM, as very important solutions in the face of global challenges in the wine industry [34]. In this context, wine business and wine tourism require substantial marketing support, especially through SM (e.g., Facebook) [14,[35][36][37]. SM marketing is defined as "building a social network of fans, followers, and connections using proper and interesting content that allows businesses to reach and engage more people and drive more sales" [38] (p. 4).…”