A participatory X-ray of heritage and local tourism dynamics marks a key step towards a common sustainable development strategy in the SUDOE region.
The HITTS project (Heritage, Identity and Tourism for Sustainable Socioeconomic development), funded by the Interreg SUDOE programme, has completed the territorial diagnosis of its seven regional partners — a strategic document that lays the foundation for designing a transnational sustainable tourism strategy in rural areas of Spain, Portugal and France.
This diagnosis, the result of extensive participatory work, provides an in-depth analysis of natural and cultural heritage, the organisation of tourism stakeholders, and the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism in each of the territories involved: Úbeda (Andalusia), Valle Salado de Añana (Basque Country), Tierras de Libertad (Castilla-La Mancha), Médio Tejo (Portugal), Montalegre (Portugal), Parc Naturel Régional des Grands Causses (France) and Aven Armand – Montpellier-le-Vieux (France).
The diagnosis results reveal shared challenges: depopulation, tourism seasonality, weak coordination among stakeholders and environmental pressure. But they also highlight shared strengths: exceptional heritage, a clear commitment to sustainability, and a local community increasingly involved in the enhancement of its resources.
This deliverable demonstrates the potential of the HITTS approach, which combines heritage conservation with artistic creation and shared governance to promote eco-responsible, inclusive and economically viable tourism. In the next phase of the project, a joint strategy will be developed and pilot actions tailored to each territory will be launched.
