Andalusia tourism: study demands residents get a say
Tourism in Andalusia should be judged by more than visitor numbers, overnight stays and spending, a new University of Jaén study says. It calls for people living in holiday destinations to have a regular say in how tourism affects housing, safety, public services and quality of life. The university announced the study on Friday; it has been published in the journal Sustainable Development.
Residents’ lives count in tourism plans
The researchers want long-term tourism planning that outlasts political cycles. They also say responsibilities between public authorities need clearer boundaries, while those involved in tourism management should play a more effective part.
Juan Ignacio Pulido signed the study alongside fellow University of Jaén researchers Jairo Casado and Isabel Carrillo, who are linked to the university’s Tourism Analysis and Innovation Laboratory. Pulido said the findings showed broad agreement that parts of Andalusia’s current tourism management system need to change.
A key proposal is to regularly track how satisfied local communities are. Housing, safety, public services and quality of life would become measures of a destination’s success alongside its visitor and spending figures.
Different places need different rules
The study points to inland and rural destinations as a way to spread tourism more evenly across Andalusia. It also backs sustainable travel and better use of technology to spot build-ups of visitors and manage flows before places become overcrowded.
But the experts disagree over tax incentives, some measures affecting tourist lets, and tools intended to protect local shops and cultural identity. The researchers say that does not remove the need for change; it shows that measures must suit each place, whether it is a major historic city, a heavily visited coastal municipality, a rural destination or an inland area.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com