30 years of LEADER in Andalusia, Southern Spain. Diversification, rural tourism and smart growth

Abstract

This article presents the main results of a study on the trajectory of the LEADER rural development method in Andalusia during its thirty years of existence. Furthermore, it reports on the challenges it has overcome in recent years through the diversification and improvement of the quality of life projects promoted by the Andalusian Local Action Groups. For this purpose, the evolution of rural tourism projects and the different options related to the use of territorial resources are analyzed, together with their connection with European guidelines focused on smart growth. Taking previous research on preceding periods as a reference, emphasis is placed on the projects promoted during the last two phases of LEADER implementation, analysing the institutional sources and contrasting them with the detailed information collected in the online portals of the 51 Andalusian LEADER Rural Areas. The results reveal a consolidation of the trend indicated by other studies regarding the maturity and growing presence of tourism initiatives and a commitment to innovation, sustainability and specialisation in investment. In addition, the difficulties associated with their integration into Rural Development Programmes are recognized, requiring improvement proposals for the next period 2023-2027, which is currently in the design process.