Tourism Development in the Framework of Endogenous Rural Development Programmes—Comparison of the Case Studies of the Regions of La Vera and Tajo-Salor (Extremadura, Spain)

Abstract

The promotion of rural tourism is one of the measures that has aroused most expectations in the application of the endogenous rural development programmes promoted by the European Commission at the beginning of the 1990s. Using the case study methodology, this research aims to compare the implementation of the aforementioned measure in two regions which, according to their characteristics, could be considered as antagonistic examples: one, La Vera, has all the conditions to successfully develop its tourism sector; the other, Tajo-Salor, with an adverse climate, lacking in outstanding tourism resources and far from the main centres of demand, could be considered the opposite. The results of the research show the risks inherent in an excessive specialisation in tourism within development strategies. Paradoxically, in La Vera, the concentration of investment in the tourism sector has resulted in a higher number of failed and transferred projects, as well as the dissatisfaction of most of its tourism promoters with the viability of their businesses. In contrast, in Tajo-Salor, the results are more positive, despite the fact that this region has given less relative importance to the tourism sector.

Long-Term Survival of Investments Implemented under Endogenous Rural Development Programs: The Case Study of La Vera Region (Extremadura, Spain)

“…This work shows that not all private projects promoted by rural development programs have the same long-term survival expectations. In line with conclusions by Castellano-Álvarez et al [63,64], the results question the viability of tourism projects aimed at creating new rural accommodations. Therefore, territories orienting their development strategy towards rural tourism promotion due to their characteristics must address this challenge without renouncing necessary investment diversification.…”

“…With its approach, this research shares Navarro et al's [62] (p. 349) criticism that official evaluations "do not sufficiently consider the impacts these programs generate in the territory". It also follows previous studies by Castellano-Álvarez et al [63] comparing tourism development in La Vera and Tajo-Salor; and Castellano -Álvarez et al [64], also based on the La Vera case study, analyzing the application of Proder I (1996-1999) and Proder II (2000II ( -2006. This new contribution aims to update those results and extend the research time horizon to a new programming period in which the Leader Approach (2007-2013) was implemented [65].…”

“…However, the productive nature of these measures does not preclude financing public actions for general interest like regional tourism promotion, trail restoration, business fairs, etc. To select a project sample in the aforementioned productive measures, criteria used by Castellano-Álvarez et al [63,64] in previous studies were followed. These are: (1) primarily private investment;…”

“…Regarding the interview content [63,64], analyzing promoters' viability assessments requires focusing on those investing in accommodation creation, since viability is not controversial for other promoters. Guaranteeing anonymity, some of their most interesting reflections are transcribed to identify factors they believe jeopardize project viability.…”

Relevance of Territorial Identity in the Rural Development Programs—The Case Study of Tajo-Salor (Extremadura, Spain)

“…The methodological approach of this work is very similar to that used by Castellano-Álvarez et al (2023). In this case, this research raises new concerns, but, in relation to the methodology, the research phases and sources used are very similar.…”