tourism as the trigger for local development of a post...

Tourism as the trigger for local

development of a post-mining area in the

southeast of Portugal: perceptions of the

visited and the visitors

24th ESRS Congress,

22-25 August 2011, Chania, Greece

Daniela Craveiro, Idalina Dias-Sardinha, Sérgio Milheiras* *SOCIUS/ ISEG, Technical University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal

REHMINE Project [FCT project: PTDC/AAC-AMB/103907/2008]

http://pascal.iseg.utl.pt/~socius/rehmine/

[email protected]

http://pascal.iseg.utl.pt/~socius/rehmine/

mailto:[email protected]

1. Introduction

Case study: São Domingos Mine (SDM)

• Located in southeast Portugal

• Post-mining rural area abandoned for decades (since

the late 1960s)

• Big unsolved environmental problem (450ha)

• Aged, deprived and unqualified population

Cultural tourism is seen as the trigger for local

development by stakeholders [Part of a wider project (REHMINE) that focuses on the values potentially generated by the

redevelopment of a post-mining area, according to sustainable development principles]

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24th ESRS, Greece, WG21 - Craveiro, Dias-Sardinha & Milheiras

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1. Introduction

Theoretical context

A. Challenging situations and limited results of rural/heritage tourism

Tourism based on cultural assets (such as rural capital or industrial heritage) has

been considered a positive factor of social and economic development in rural

areas. However, empirical evidences have shown limited results on previous

experiences and several challenges to overcome.

Some challenges:

•Small-scale businesses and low level of skills

•Few collaborations between private and public entities

•Aging population and low qualifications

•High level of environmental degradation/high cost of remediation

•Locations are traditionally far from tourist circuits

•A minority of tourists are truly interested in that attraction

Rural

tourism

Heritage

tourism

(Conesa et al., 2008; Edwards & Llurdés I Coit, 1996; Fleischer & Felsenstein, 2000;

Fonseca & Ramos, 2007; Frochot, 2005; Sharpley & Roberts, 2004)

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1. Introduction

Theoretical context

B. Main lessons highlighted in the literature review

i) The need to integrate the cultural offer in a wider range of local attractions (Ballesteros & Ramírez, 2007; Canalejo, 2010; Edwards & Llurdés I Coit, 1996; Hospers, 2002;

Sharpley, 2002).

ii) Articulate with different entities, entrepreneurs or stakeholders (Ballesteros &

Ramírez, 2007; Fonseca & Ramos, 2007; Macdonald & Jolliffe, 2003; Koutsouris, 2009; Sharpley &

Roberts, 2004; Xie, 2006).

Several studies were developed in order to explore attitudes and perceptions of

individual stakeholder groups. However, there is not enough empirical research

concerning the confrontation of various stakeholder groups (Byrd, Bosley, Bronberger,

2009), neither the visitors’ perspective on rural tourism (Frochot, 2005).

The paper addresses these gaps by integrating the perspectives of different

stakeholders groups crossing the prospects of visited and visitors.

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1. Introduction

We aim to:

- Cross the prospects of locals and visitors about tourism in SDM;

- Contribute to enhance the value of the integration of different

stakeholders’ perspectives;

- Understand the potential success factors for SDM future

development; and

- Contribute for the reflection on post-mining sites redevelopment

in rural areas.

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2. Methodology

Three inquiry methods:

A. Social actors’ interviews [May 2010 – Jun 2011]

- Interviews semi-structured by a SWOT model analysis about SDM.

- Snowball sampling: 21 relevant local social actors.

- Thematic content analysis assisted by MaxQDA.

B. Local entrepreneurs’ questionnaire [November 20, 2010]

- Questionnaire – present SDM situation, importance of an intervention and their

availability to participate in SDM (re)development planning.

- Application at a municipal meeting about local entrepreneurship.

C. Visitors’ questionnaire [on-going]

- Questionnaire about the visit and a description of the visitor; evaluation of SDM’s

points of interest; valorization of regional and local touristic resources; and the

evaluation of SDM as a tourist destination.

- Sampling based on diversity criteria (different times and places in order to account the

variability amongst visitors). 06-10-2011

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3. Results

A. Social actors’ interviews (N = 21) Interview analysis identified concerns on SD dimensions:

Environmental, Social, Cultural, Economic, Communitarian and Strategic.

Highlights:

Economic revitalization

- Multifunctional territory (not only tourism but also local production)

- Driving economic activity: tourism (creation/improvement of touristic equipment

and services, marked trails for visitors, better accessibilities, transport connection with a

nearby riverside location - Pomarão, diversify touristic offer, etc.)

Strategic reframing

- Integrated planning

- Territorial competitiveness (taking advantage of geographical frontiers, invest in

the valorization of local resources – fluvial beaches & industrial heritage)

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3. Results

B. Local entrepreneurs’ questionnaire (N= 22)

Highlights:

Diagnosis: SDM is considered a touristic attraction (95.5%); has social problems

(81.8%); but benefits from the work of the local associations (81.8%).

Aims ranking: 1.º historical and touristic promotion; 2.º reducing social

problems of the residents; 3.º reduce environmental risk; 4.º reduce community

health risk.

Intervention measures ranking: 1.º investing in tourism (81%); 2.º attract

external funding and improve investment conditions (57.1%, 52.4 %); 3.º

Pomarão as a platform for receiving tourists (47.6%). [less rated: conjoint work

with community and other partners (42.9%) and the creation of regional networks or

partnerships (23.8%)]

Entrepreneurs availability: through profit investment (63.2%) and mainly

through participation on the planning process (83.3%).

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3. Results

C. Visitors’ questionnaire (N = 101) (+170)

Highlights:

Visitors characteristics: visitors tended to return regularly (45%), and stay in a

second house (67.9%).

Touristic resources valorization: they value in a equally positive way the

different touristic resources but the frequency of visits to places of interest

highlight the attractiveness of the fluvial beaches (visited by 93.5%) and the

mining heritage (83.7%).

Touristic services evaluation: the evaluation is positive but structures and

information services, safety in the mining area and animation activities are

less positive aspects.

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4. Discussion

- Key strengths of SDM found and lines of action:

- Both visitors and visited value the fluvial beaches and the

industrial heritage as touristic resources. BUT mining heritage

seems to be more valued by local social actors than by visitors. Previous researches indicate that only a minority of tourists are particularly

interested in the site-specific cultural dimension (Frochot, 2005).

Congruence between the perceptions of visitors and visited

regarding the need to improve conditions for reception of

tourists.

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4. Discussion

Algarve and Spain mentioned as strategic touristic geographic

frontiers. However, visitors come mostly from Lisbon and Tagus

Valley and Algarve. Spanish tourists were not identified in the

sample yet.

Most visitors sampled have a second house in the village,

regularly visit the place and seem to maintain family and

affective ties with SDM. One can assume that the SDM is not

sufficiently promoted as a touristic destination to attract a

higher proportion of “tourists”.

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5. Main conclusions

•SDM as a touristic destination: Strengths and weaknesses where

identified.

•Consider limitations of the integration of data from the three

inquiry methods used, and the representativeness of the samples.

•Both differences and congruencies of visited and visitors’

perspectives confirm the importance of an integrated

redevelopment approach for SDM.

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REHMINE PROJECT

Financed by the Portuguese public institution Fundação para a

Ciência e a Tecnologia

Contribution of Corporate Social Responsibility for Sustainable

Development - (2010 - 2012) Ref. PTDC/AAC-AMB/103907/2008

Site: http://pascal.iseg.utl.pt/~socius/rehmine/

Email: [email protected]

6. References

•Ballestros, E. & Ramírez, H. (2007). Identity and community - reflections on the

development of mining heritage tourism in Southern Spain. Tourism Management, 28 (3):

677-687.

•Canalejo, A., Guzmán, T. & Torre, G. (2010). El turismo industrial minero como motor de

desarrollo en áreas geográficas en declive – un estudio de caso. Estudios y Perspectivas

en Turismo, 19: 382-393.

•Conesa, H.M., Schulin, R. & Nowack, B. (2008). Mining landscape: a cultural tourist

opportunity or an environmental problem? The study of the Cartagena-La Unión District

(SE Spain). Ecological Economics, 64 (4): 690-700.

•Edwards, J.A. & Llurdés i Coit, J. C. (1996). Mines and quarries: Industrial heritage

tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 23 (2): 341-363.

•Frochot, I. (2005). A benefit segmentation of tourists in rural areas: a Scottish

perspective. Tourism Management, 26 (3): 335-346.

•Hall, D. (2004). Rural tourism development in Southeastern Europe: Transition and the

search for sustainability. International Journal of Tourism Research, 6 (3): 165-176.

•Hospers, G. (2002). Industrial heritage, tourism and regional restructuring in the

European Union. European Planning Studies, 10 (3): 397-404.

•Sharpley, R. (2002). Rural tourism and the challenge of tourism diversification: the case

of Cyprus. Tourism Management, 23 (3): 233-244.

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