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Heritage, Tourism and Local Development in Peripheral Rural Spaces: Mértola (Baixo Alentejo, Portugal)

Author

Listed:
  • F. Javier García-Delgado

    (Department of History, Geography and Anthropology, University of Huelva, 21071 Huelva, Spain)

  • Antonio Martínez-Puche

    (Department of Human Geography, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, 03080 Alicante, Spain)

  • Rubén C. Lois-González

    (Department of Geography, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15703 A Coruña, Spain)

Abstract

In the context of multiple repurposing of rural spaces, tourism represents a path for development, with the potential to revitalize these areas. The conservation and restoration of heritage, and its promotion through tourism, can become an opportunity for local development, in which a range of stakeholders fulfil different roles in the carrying out of the processes involved. The aim of the study was to analyse the heritagisation processes and their tourist value enhancement and how it affects local development in Mértola (Baixo Alentejo, Portugal). A series of interviews with the chief stakeholders in the process were conducted, from which the contexts and conceptualisations of development were determined. On the basis of secondary data in terms of statistics, an analysis of the impacts of the process of heritagisation and the development of tourism was undertaken. The main conclusions drawn by the research are the following: (a) the importance of the process of heritagisation in Mértola; (b) the viability of the project, given the cost and lack of comprehensive conservation, in creating a unified whole; (c) the performance of, and power relationships between, the various stakeholders; (d) the limited participation of locals due to disaffection with the project; (e) the correlation between heritage, rural tourism, and local development.

Suggested Citation

  • F. Javier García-Delgado & Antonio Martínez-Puche & Rubén C. Lois-González, 2020. "Heritage, Tourism and Local Development in Peripheral Rural Spaces: Mértola (Baixo Alentejo, Portugal)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-27, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:9157-:d:439578
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. David Throsby, 1997. "Seven Questions in the Economics of Cultural Heritage," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Michael Hutter & Ilde Rizzo (ed.), Economic Perspectives on Cultural Heritage, chapter 2, pages 13-30, Palgrave Macmillan.
    4. Magnus Bohlin & Daniel Brandt & Jörgen Elbe, 2016. "Tourism as a vehicle for regional development in peripheral areas – myth or reality? A longitudinal case study of Swedish regions," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(10), pages 1788-1805, October.
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    6. Michael Hutter & Ilde Rizzo (ed.), 1997. "Economic Perspectives on Cultural Heritage," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-25824-6.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yuqing Geng & Hongwei Zhu & Renjun Zhu, 2022. "Coupling Coordination between Cultural Heritage Protection and Tourism Development: The Case of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-22, November.

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