Cultural Route Tourism:
The Case of El Camino de Santiago

Source: Photograph taken by author (Santiago de Compostela, March 2004)

I. Identification

1. The Issue

In a time when many of the impacts of tourism, both good and bad, have already been studied and understood, there still are lessons and unique challenges that come up every time a new potential tourist product is identified.

It is clear now that the impacts of a mass tourism model can have a greater negative effect than what was expected, and that what seemed as the strength of the model in attracting multitudes during a few months of the year can actually become its greatest weakness if something were to disrupt that flow.

In Spain during the 1960s and 1970s, tourism grew at an incredible pace thanks to the rapid development of the coastal areas of the south and the Mediterranean. Priority was given to those areas in order to accommodate the increasing number of tourists who arrived looking for the beach and the sun. The inner and northern regions of the country were neglected for the most part in terms of tourism development, and this did not help the deteriorating situation that many rural regions faced as the sustainability of small-scale agriculture waned and the younger generations migrated away towards urban centers.

One has to be aware of and understand the socio-political changes that occurred in the last decades in order to find sense in the change of direction that Spain has taken in developing its tourism. A dictatorship, with an authoritarian and centralist regime, was in place under Franco at the time that the tourism boom occurred. Spain’s democratization and the enactment of the Constitution in 1978 started the decentralization of the politic and administrative structure to give regional administrations, or Autonomous Communities (AC), and Municipalities certain important powers over their regions. The transfer of tourism powers to the ACs was completed during the 1980s. Under this new structure, ACs had more liberty in terms of what they thought would be best for their own region, and in the case of the tourism sector, new objectives included the assessment of development in economic, environmental and socio-cultural terms, a perspective that had not been previously contemplated during the fast growth periods. Spain’s entry into the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1986 also opened the doors to increased cooperation for regional development. EU structural funds became available for many purposes, among them the economic development of neglected rural areas. Spain had to plan its new policies in harmony with the EU’s own development policies, if it aimed to benefit from European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) (Baidal, 2003).

The revitalization of the rural regions was a priority, and for tourism development this meant an opportunity to diversify the product. As previously stated, the concentration of tourism in the coasts and its high degree of seasonality has become a concern as increasing competition from abroad destinations can potentially reduce the number of repeat visitors. Since tourism is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, earners of foreign exchange in Spain, the need to remain competitive and attract tourists is its own incentive. Alternative tourism products or attractions have been identified, and although many names have been applied to these, most of them can generally be thought of as coming under the “rural tourism” umbrella. Under this umbrella, different types of tourism depending on the expectations or activities can be described, such as agritourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism and the topic of this study: cultural tourism.

Spain’s rich cultural and historical heritage gives it an incredible potential for developing a quality cultural tourism product. An interesting mix of cultures that have left their influences in both architecture and traditions, Spain can offer a unique and varied experience to any traveler. Regional and national authorities agree that this history and culture is a treasure, and have actively worked for the rehabilitation and preservation of this important heritage.

We are in a time when the tourist is no longer satisfied with just another trip to the beach, instead it is increasingly common to find tourists who want to be intellectually stimulated when they take their vacation, who want to combine their experience of relaxation with learning. Culture is a common thread that we all have within us, yet the realization of its diversity and the understandable curiosity of man make discovering something new very satisfying. Tourism has been hailed as a vehicle for understanding and respect between cultures, and it rightly has the ability to be so, however it also has the potential to achieve the exact opposite.

This study will focus on the issues surrounding the potential of cultural tourism given the cultural resources available, what are the desired economic and development objectives, and what strategies and policies Spanish authorities have and are currently adopting to guide tourism development in the right direction. The success of cultural routes such as the “Camino de Santiago” are examined and analyzed as examples of both local and regional development policies.

2. Description

Figure 1

When increased competition from abroad destinations can be felt, as hotel occupancy rates in the overdeveloped Mediterranean coasts have dropped over the last few summers, it is imperative to have a more diverse offer to offset this possible reduction in demand. Low-cost airlines and cheaper destinations are increasingly becoming available, and northern Europeans now have the option of choosing between more destinations such as Morocco or Greece and even the Caribbean while still staying within their budgets.

In order to compete and stay as a leading destination, Spain has turned to developing and promoting its diverse tourism offer. The growth of rural tourism as a whole over the last decade has shown promising results, but it has been largely fueled by a national demand. The potential of marketing this offer to an international audience has even more appeal, as Spain’s cultural diversity is already of interest for many travelers.

In terms of cultural tourism, Spain has much to offer. World famous museums like the Prado and Reina Sofia in Madrid, and the Guggenheim in Bilbao, need little introduction for tourists wishing exposure to the arts. Historic cities and towns also abound, having distinct Moorish or Roman influences among others, where tourists can peer back into the past through the beautiful architecture. Local traditions and celebrations are also a great source of interest for those seeking an authentic experience. These and many other aspects of cultural tourism have come together in an innovative and very imaginative strategy in the form of the cultural “route”.

A cultural route, in terms of tourism, is a defined path or route of some historical significance that can be presented as a whole with a unifying message. In Spain’s case, it is a perfect way of integrating many of the different tourism offers. Examples include special agriculturally themed routes along the south in Andalucía, and the world famous Camino de Santiago which is actually composed of several routes with the “French” route being the most popular.

The Camino de Santiago is in fact a medieval pilgrimage route that culminates in the city of Santiago de Compostela. It has several start points, including four in France for the French Route, and in Seville for the Silver Route. In order to comply with tradition, pilgrims are required to walk at least 100 km or to ride at least 200 km by bike or horseback. Along the way, many towns and cities have come to realize the benefits that such a promotion can have. Traditions, architecture, culture and religious history all come together to offer the traveler a unique experience. The Galician Government’s Xacobeo 93 campaign was a succesfull and organized effort, as it drew a steady increase in the amount of tourists and pilgrims in the following years to about 4 million per year. During the 1999 Holy year alone, the follow up campaign drew over 6 million people. This realization of the tourism potential has altered the way in which the architectural heritage is perceived and preserved, as what had been previously neglected is now seen as a valuable asset.

Source: Photograph taken by author (Santiago de Compostela, March 2004)

3. Related Cases

There are several examples of cultural routes with tourism potential around the world. The Silk Road is such a route that is stepped in history and culture from hundreds of years ago. This was a trade route that started in the Chinese Imperial city of Xian, and stretched across the Taklimakan desert reaching the Mediterranean and the Eastern Roman Empire. China has realized the tourist potential of this resource, and has worked to restore and preserve important sites along the route. The promotion of the route is important as well, as it has been associated with a romantic image of a mixture of cultures and the opening of trade between distant lands during a time of discovery. The name of “The Silk Road”, which was coined in the 1800s, has become very recognizable to many even if they don’t know the history of the route or what it refers to. This just shows the staying power of promoting a destination or journey by identifying it with cultural and historical experiences.

Figure 2

Other examples of cultural tourism routes are gastronomic routes, with wine routes gaining popularity. Traditional wine country is associated with a relaxed and stress free lifestyle, revolving around the wine culture. As many modern societies have come to appreciate the delicate complexity of wine making, a strong market for tours of wineries and the tasting of different wines that a region is famous for has risen. In wine producing countries such as France, wine routes have become hotspots for wine seeking tourists. Regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Champagne and Loire Valley have experienced this growth in tourism due to wine. In Spain, regions like Rioja, Ribera del Duelo and Toledo among others have also experienced a growing demand for specialty tours of wine production. Specialty travel agencies are capitalizing on the potential of such wine tours, and it is very easy to arrange a complete itinerary of wine tasting in many regions through independent travel agents over the Internet. This way is probably the simplest way to arrange a trip for now, as regional level promotions by the authorities haven’t addressed this issue completely yet. In a very recent example of the growing interest for such vacation experiences, the movie “Sideways” is set against the background of a wine tour in the Santa Barbara wine country. California has many other wine regions like Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley and Monterrey, and the domestic U.S. tourism potential for these regions after such exposure is immense. It is of interest to point out that after the release of this movie in the U.S., where pinot noir was exalted, its demand increased significantly. This just shows how responsive people can be to effective promotion.

4. Authors and Dates

Hugo Leonardo Prado. April 2005.
Master of Tourism Administration Candidate
Department of Tourism and Hospitality
School of Business
The George Washington University
600 21st St., NW
Washington, DC 20052
hlprado@gwu.edu

II. Policy Impacts

5. Social

The decisions to promote tourism and open up regions to the flow of visitors can have many impacts on the local social structure. Although there is wide spread concurrence on the economic benefits that tourism can have, there is significantly less agreement on whether the effects of social and cultural impacts are positive or negative. Fading traditions can be brought back, for example the traditional Andalucian bullfight had been declining in importance until tourists arrived, and the traditional Flamenco dance was arguably saved in the same manner. Whether the dance retains its traditional form is not as important as its preservation and popularity (Gerlach, 1991). This can be true for many local customs or traditions along the cultural route, as a demand for an authentic and consistent experience can help revive customs that can once again be economically viable.

On the other hand though, the influx of foreign travelers and their demands can disrupt the socio-cultural balance of a destination. When the destination is a small town, such as in the case of many towns that are located along the way of the Camino, these disruptions can have a noticeable impact. The fact that many local traditions or crafts can be bolstered by a tourist demand overlooks the reality that those are being transformed into tourist products that lack the original intention they had. An extreme example of the packaging of a cultural tradition into a product is the way in which some contemporary American Indian tribes would welcome tourists and show them the stereotypical feather headdress and face paintings instead of their own culture which was very different. The demand for what was perceived as the “original” experience actually pushed the fabrication of a false tourism product that could only deter an already fragile set of traditions. This is a very negative impact of tourism, which not only hurts local traditions and the established way of life, but also gives a false impression to the tourist.

Cultural tourism was seen as a sustainable type of tourism that would only attract a specific niche of travelers. Usually well educated, and looking for new learning experiences, these tourists would suppose minimal impacts because they are aware of the fragility of the resource or heritage to overexposure, and they themselves would try to act in a sustainable manner. Although this can hold true, as more and more of these cultural tourists arrive, this type of tourism can quickly result in what it was trying to avoid. Mass cultural tourism is no different from any other form of mass tourism, and when a destination as attractive as the Camino de Santiago can draw millions of tourists, the impacts of said responsible tourists cannot be underestimated.

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Source: Photograph taken by author (Santiago de Compostela, March 2004)

6. Environmental

Environmental impacts are related to the natural resources being affected in the development of tourism. The degree of growth being contemplated, and how it is controlled will affect how much stress is being imposed on the environment. The concept of carrying capacity, which was originally developed to describe an ecosystem’s ability to accommodate and maintain in a sustainable way a certain number of predators, is now applied in a variety of fields including tourism. In this sense, it can apply to how much tourism volume a place can withstand before its distinctive characteristics are negatively impacted and start to lose their tourist appeal. For cultural tourism, the characteristics of value can include the landscape and the built heritage. If the natural and rural pathways are subject to heavy tourist traffic, they may deteriorate and become a source of displeasure for tourists if they are not maintained. Old historical buildings and streets can also come under negative effects of tourist traffic if this flow is not controlled.

Pressures on natural resources can be felt more in small towns along a route, and unless the development of a proper infrastructure and services to address the impacts of tourism is implemented, locals can be faced with such problems as water shortages, waste accumulation and land degradation.

7. Economic

The economic impacts of developing and promoting such a broad product as a cultural route can be substantial. A cultural route of such scope like the Camino de Santiago is bound to have economic repercussions for the large area surrounding it. Most if not all of the communities along the way stand to benefit from the promotion of the route, as attention and a flow of travelers that previously had not been present now bring a new source of income for the local economy. So from an economic standpoint, the development of a cultural route like the Camino can have positive impacts, to the point that tourism may become the principal source of income. A negative effect of this is that the reliance on tourism may leave a small town very vulnerable to changes in the flow of tourism and therefore income.

The valorization of heritage is subjective to its perceived potential, and in the case of cultural tourism, importance is given to the restoration and preservation of heritage resources, which were once neglected, but that now appeal to a spending traveler. Indeed for places like Santiago de Compostela it is clear that the preservation of its rich heritage is in fact an important economic asset. The opportunity costs of other uses for this heritage do not seem to surpass the economic sustainability of cultural tourism.

8. Other: N/A

9. Suggested Interventions: N/A

III. Legal Clusters

10. Discourse and Status/Policy Issue

The development of the Camino de Santiago route involved all the regions that are encompassed by it. The recognition of the potential for tourism was seen as a sustainable alternative for the development of areas in need. A number of initiatives to help develop the communities that would be affected from the flow of tourism were implemented, and strategies to help the economies of these communities through tourism were favored. Some of the development efforts are discussed below.

11. Forum and Scope/Existing Policy Framework

International

Spain’s development policies are influenced in part by the European Union’s policies. With the goal of encouraging the development of neglected rural regions, the EU implemented in 1991 a program called LEADER (Liaisons Entre Activités de Development de L’Economie Rural). LEADER is a program that provides funding for the development or rural regions, to diversify and strengthen their economies and help counter the negative effects of the loss of population and the loss of agricultural activities. Since it encourages small to medium enterprises (SME) in diversifying local economies, rural tourism stands to benefit from this as it is conducted primarily through SMEs. LEADER I (1991-1994) marked the beginning of a new approach to rural development policy, which is territorial based, integrated and participative. LEADER II (1994-1999) had the LEADER I approach put to a more widespread use, with an emphasis on the innovative aspects of projects. In its third phase, LEADER + continues its role as a laboratory which aims to encourage the emergence and testing of new approaches to integrated sustainable development that will influence, complete or reinforce rural development policy in the Community (see EUROPA).

LEADER + has four main themes identified for carrying out, as decided by the European Commission, and these are:
• making the best use of natural and cultural resources, including enhancing the value of sites;
• improving the quality of life in rural areas;
• adding value to local products, in particular by facilitating access to markets for small production units via collective actions;
• the use of new know-how and new technologies to make products and services in rural areas more competitive.

Through development programs like this one, priorities can be identified for each region and specific plans and actions can therefore be implemented. It is interesting to note that tourism and the valorization of heritage are among the key strategies presented. LEADER + also supports strategies that have as an objective the increase of employment, particularly for women and younger people. This is of relevance because the rural tourism sector got a boost from a largely female workforce, in agritourism not long ago.

LEADER + is implemented in Spain through one national program, and seventeen regional programs. The regional programs are developed entirely by the Autonomous Communities.

National

Spain has its own rural development program that parallels the LEADER initiative, and it is called PRODER (Programa Operativo de Desarrollo y Diversificación Económica de zonas Rurales). This program is funded in part by EU Structural Funds, while the national and regional governments with the aid of private sources pick up the rest. Its objectives are to spur sustainable and endogenous development in rural zones, through the diversification of economic activities and the reversal or at least containment of the population exodus to urban centers. PRODER lasted from 1996-1999, and from its success, PRODER 2 has been implemented from 2000-2006. PRODER 2 builds on PRODER, and incorporates objectives of the conservation of the natural space and resources. Among the strategies for this program, the encouragement of investment for tourism is also given importance (see CELULA).

Currently in Spain, tourism powers and decisions lie with the Autonomous Communities, however an autonomous agency exists at the national level to develop promotion campaigns. This agency is TURESPAÑA (www.spain.info). TURESPAÑA, among other things, acts in coordination with the Autonomous Communities to develop and launch marketing campaigns that apply both for the national level as well as for the regional level. The shift in thinking towards a more diverse tourism offer can also be seen in these campaigns. For example the very successful “Spain: Everything Under the Sun” campaign highlighted the sunny beaches and coasts, while the last two campaigns, “Spain Marks” and “Smile! You Are In Spain” aim at highlighting the other quality tourism products Spain has to offer. Both of these have tailored the campaign for the benefit of the regions as well, as can be seen in the following advertisements.

Figure 3

Regional

In terms of regional initiatives and policies, Galicia is an excellent example of the priority that sound development of a tourist resource is given. Through a consolidated communication strategy, it has been able to associate directly the image of the Camino with the image of Galicia. By building on the significance of special Holy years, which are years when Saint James’ day of July 25 falls on a Sunday, it has created a whole new image for the experience. The pilgrimage in Holy years, termed Xacobeo, is planned years in advance with the purpose of being able to manage the increased tourist flow. Efforts across all the regions involved are aimed at trying to accommodate the flow of tourists while controlling the impacts that result from this. Some examples include the establishment of a network of free hostels for the pilgrims. The Camino itself is maintained very well and has an efficient signage system, with the regions involved cooperating with public organizations like Amigos del Camino to ensure an organized, informative and well presented experience for the dedicated pilgrim.

Source: Photograph taken by author (2004)

Local

Local development plans address the most immediate concerns of a city or municipality, and in the case of the Camino, Santiago de Compostela is the city that probably has to face the most challenges. Since it was designated as a World Heritage Site (WHS) in 1985, and with the success of the Xacobeo campaigns, Santiago has drawn multitudes of travelers that total over 6 million a year. In 1989 the General Plan of Urban Development addressed issues such as the city’s growth into a premier center, its integration into the wider area to which it belongs, and the compartmentalization of the city for planning purposes such as the preservation of its historical center. The Consortium of Santiago was formed in order to manage the development plans and related issues, and is based on the non-partisan cooperation between the regional and central governments, local administrations, the ministry and the church (Lois, 2003).

12. Decision Breadth/Stakeholders/Policy Actors

The stakeholders involved in the development of plans and policies include the local, regional and national governments, as well as the public and civil societies, all the services sectors, the European Union and lastly but not least the tourists themselves as their experience will determine the success of the endeavor to a large degree. These are represented in part in the example of the Consortium of Santiago just mentioned.

13. Legal Standing/Legal Regulatory Framework/Suggested Policy Intervention

Policies that address the issues of the impacts of large numbers of visitors on small and contained cities and towns are the most pressing. However, coordination and collaboration between the authorities of different regions is necessary to maintain the consistency and quality of the product.

IV. Trade Clusters

14. Type of Measure

The success of the development and promotion of the Camino as a tourist product can be addressed through the expected and actual impacts, and the increase of the demand. The sustainability varies depending on the time of year and number of tourists, and the exposure of the cities and towns to this flow.

15. Relation of Trade Measure to Environmental/Tourism Impact

- Directly Related to Product

The local economies and environments are most evidently impacted by tourism. The measure of sustainability is controlled by the policies in place by the local and regional governments, as they are directly related to the promotion of the route. Travel agents also play a role, although not as significant because of the organized efforts of the Autonomous Communities to disseminate information and provide sufficient lodging alternatives for travelers.

- Indirectly Related to Product

Some outcomes or impacts that indirectly affect the places where tourism arrives are negative impacts such as pollution and littering, water shortages and waste accumulation, congestion and the disruption of an otherwise tranquil way of life. These can have a negative effect on the tourism product itself, diminishing its original appeal and uniqueness. The impacts on the local culture and the fabrication of “authentic” tourist products are also a result of the degree of sustainability of tourism.

- Not Related to Product: No
- Related to Process: No

16. Trade Product Identification/Trade and Services

The services the tourist or pilgrim has access to are all directly at the local level, although they are coordinated from a regional standpoint. Policies that include the maintenance of paths, the restoration and preservation of landmarks, the availability of accommodations and the revival of local crafts and traditions are all in place to ensure a quality experience for the visitor. The services provided are the same tourism services found elsewhere, but they should keep in focus with the identity and heritage of the cultural experience being sought.

17. Economic Data

Economic data for some of the development programs like LEADER + and PRODER 2 shows the importance that developing rural communities has. For example, out of a budget of around 5,000 million Euros for the LEADER + program, almost 800 million Euros were destined for Spain. The breakdown is primarily geared towards integrated territorial development strategies, based on a bottom-up approach. The Autonomous Regions of Andalucía, Castile and León and Galicia were the three top regions in terms of the allocation of funding. These regions are also given priority for funding under the PRODER initiatives.

The tourism revenue benefits that stay in the region are difficult to calculate, but in the case of Galicia it is estimated that tourism contributes more than 10% to the regional GDP. While this may not seem near the economic contribution that tourism has in other regions like Andalucía and the Balearic Islands, it is important to remember that the northern regions was not intensely developed for tourism like these other regions were. Therefore the positioning of tourism in terms of economic returns in regions such as Galicia is very significant and gives a hint of the potential for sustainability of tourism.

18. Impact of Trade Restriction

Since the main markets for tourism are European, trade restrictions are not an issue as Spain is a member of the European Union. For non-EU countries, tourism will depend on the exchange rate of the currency and on visa and travel eligibility.

19. Industry Sector

Travel and tourism; cultural and heritage tourism; pilgrimages; rural development.

20. Exporters and Importers: N/A

V. Macro/Environment Clusters/Tourism Policy Clusters

21. Environmental Problem Type/ Environmental Aspects

Sustainability issues concerning the carrying capacity and stress on resources imposed by large number of tourists have to be addressed on development policies. Best practices for the management of tourism in localized situations should be implemented where applicable. Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) also form part for planning considerations.

22. Resource Impact and Effect: N/A

23. Urgency and Lifetime/Urgency and Policy Review

The tourism promotion for rural northern Spain has focused on the natural and cultural heritage the region is rich with. Labels like “The Green Spain” are used to describe the natural landscape and the agricultural traditions rooted in this part of the country. Its potential for rural tourism has been addressed and exploited through successful promotion both at the regional and national level, and cultural tourism has not been overlooked.

Programs for rural development of said regions have been aimed at diversifying the struggling agricultural economies, identifying tourism as a viable development strategy. The continuation of programs such as LEADER and PRODER in these regions is a sign of the interest in their potential.

24. Substitutes/Alternative Policies

See Recommendations (30).

VI. Other Factors

25. Culture

The cultural heritage is the tourism product in this case, and therefore special attention has to be given to maintain the identity of the people and place. Tourism even at low levels can leave impacts upon the host culture, so its development has to be monitored and controlled to avoid the negative impacts of a mass tourism effect.

26. Trans-Boundary Issues

In the case of the Camino de Santiago, not only are regional boundaries crossed but a national boundary as well. Since the pilgrimage has start points in France as well, bilateral efforts should be coordinated if the entire route is to be developed jointly. While France has a plan for the development of its route that is very different than that of Spain, there shouldn’t be reason for why the two parts can’t function towards the same goal. This is to say that Spain’s objectives of restoring and preserving the cultural and historical heritage along the Camino don’t have to be necessarily parallel or even complimentary to France’s in order for both to benefit from the overall renovation and economic spur generated from tourism.

27. Rights

The tourist has the right to experience and discover the culture on which he has an interest on, and to come in contact with what he expects as being authentic. The development and promotion of a cultural route like the Camino has the purpose of delivering such an experience to the willing traveler, who wants history, heritage and contact with nature over the luxuries of a prepackaged vacation plan. If the tourist is expecting to see the historical heritage of cities like León, Burgos, and Santiago de Compostela, then that is what he should get. At the same time however, the rights of the locals have an equal if not greater say. Their traditions and way of life should not be packaged and presented as a tourism “product”, and their way of life should not be changed in order to satisfy the tourist. It can be argued that if traditions are being lost, that it is part of the evolution of society as it enters a more modern era, and it shouldn’t be seen as a negative on the way of progress. Trying to hold on to dying traditions could in reality be holding society back from prosperity in a more competitive environment. Tourism counters these arguments by providing an economic reason for preserving local customs and traditions, and gives new value to heritage in a time when very few ”authentic” places and experiences still remain, as the way of development reminds us of what is being replaced.

28. Relevant Literature

Ashworth, G.J. et al. (1995). Tourism and Spatial Transformations: Implications for policy and planning. CAB International. Wallingford, UK.

Bramwell, B. (2004). Coastal mass tourism: Diversification and sustainable development in southern Europe. Channel View Publications. UK.

Briassoulis, H. et al. (2000). Tourism and the Environment: Regional, economic, cultural and policy issues. Revised Second Edition. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

ICOMOS International Committee on Cultural Tourism / World Tourism Organization. (1993). Tourism at World Heritage Cultural Sites. WTO. Madrid, Spain.

Robinson, M. (1999). Tourism and Cultural Conflicts. CABI Publishing. Wallingford, UK.

Smith, M.K. (2003). Issues in cultural tourism studies. Routledge. London.

World Tourism Organization Seminar Proceedings. (1999). Tourism and Culture. Samarkand/Khiva, Republic of Uzbekistan. 20-21 April 1999.

VII. Conclusion

29. Policy Implications

See Recommendations (30).

30. Recommendations

It is important to point out firstly that the approach Spain has taken towards tourism development has been very innovative and highly efficient. The recognition and importance Spain has assigned to tourism in the last decades is noteworthy and currently Spain enjoys one of the finest, if not the finest, tourism promotion agencies in Turespaña. For the promotion of cultural tourism, no additional recommendations stand out, as their campaigns have proven successful in establishing the existence of a diverse tourist offer, and can continue to do so under the same method of collaboration between regional and local interests.

In terms of development, there are some recommendations that are geared towards supplementing the already existing policies and initiatives in place. Policies that address the following issues in a sustainability context are recommended:

- Continued funding for development
Programs like LEADER and PRODER that fund development projects can directly benefit SMEs that can add quality to the tourism product. Policies that encourage entrepreneurship and assist in the obtainment of these funding sources are needed, as tourism related projects with potential are identified. It is of interest to note that with the incorporation of new Member States into the EU, the flow of development funds will shift in that direction and may not be available in such amounts for these programs in Spain.

- Valorization of heritage
Through effective restoration and preservation policies, many municipalities have succeeded in providing a quality product and helping protect their cultural heritage. Policies that continue to place value on the historical and cultural assets should continue to be enforced.

- Local community involvement
The active participation of the local community and public groups has to be encouraged more, as this is a valuable resource to have that can not only provide useful opinions but actions as well.

- Carrying capacity and number of visitors
The impacts of an influx of mass cultural tourism can clearly have detrimental effects on both the heritage resources and on the social structure. Policies that either try to control the number of tourists or spread them out over the course of the year are recommended to be taken from a regional level rather than the local level in order to properly address the broad range of this cultural resource (the Camino).

- Visitor accommodations and other services
The Galician Government has established a successful network of free hostels for the pilgrims that make this journey, and efforts to do this along the other regions have also started. Policies that encourage the development of tourism infrastructure for accommodating the tourists and providing the basic services would not only help tourism, but they would also help control the impacts it can have on the environment and local populations. A system that can handle the increased flow of tourists during Holy years is necessary to contain and mitigate said impacts.

- Security
Finally the issue of security would have to be addressed, albeit not in a way that would cause reason for worry. However it is an issue which is sadly becoming a norm, as the implications of globalization and international travel are not separate from social and political turmoil, and it is something that cannot be overlooked. No specific recommendations are presented, instead just a reminder to keep this issue in mind when considering the development of policies.

Works Cited

Baidal, J.A.I. (2003). “Regional development policies: an assessment of their evolution and effects on the Spanish tourist model.” Tourism Management. Vol. 24 pp. 655-663

CELULA http://redrural.mapya.es Célula de Promoción y Animación del Desarrollo Rural. Accesses April 2005.

EUROPA http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/rur/leaderplus/index_en.htm European Union On-Line. Accessed April 2005.

Gerlach, J. (1991) “Tourism and its impact in Costa del Sol, Spain.” Focus. Vol. 41(3) pp. 7

Lois G., R.C. et al. (2003). “Cultural tourism and urban management in northwestern Spain: the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.” Tourism Geographies. Vol. 5(4) pp. 446-460

Images

Figure 1: Image taken from: http://www.arbolesparaelcamino.org/ximg/ge/mapa.jpg

Figure 2: Silk Route image taken from:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/silkroad/

Figure 3: Promotional materials from TURESPAÑA