Urban-rural migration, tourism entrepreneurs and rural restructuring in Spain

Abstract

There is considerable debate about the contribution of counter-urbanization processes in the restructuring of rural areas in Europe. This paper focuses on the impact of counter-urbanization on outdoor rural activities in the context of rural development programmes, a subject on which there has been relatively little research. The participation of urban-rural migrants in new tourism developments is studied in three Spanish case studies: Girona (coastal model), Guadalajara (a very depopulated province near Madrid) and Ciudad Real (a province with a substantial number of endogenous initiatives). This microanalysis examines three main areas of concern : experiences of previous urban activity and the migration process; the main characteristics of the new businesses and their relationship with the local community; and socio-economic characteristics. The results demonstrate a stronger presence of urban-rural migrants in rural tourism activities, compared to other activities included in rural development programmes. The main reason for the urban-rural migration is the desire to be self-employed, although there are also a number of other secondary motives.

Tourism Entrepreneurship – Review and Future Directions

“…At the meso level, studies highlight issues such as the important role of the tourism entrepreneur in destination management ) and the influence of place identity of tourism entrepreneurs' self-efficacy and support for the community (Hallak, Brown, & Lindsay, 2012). These studies reflect the importance of place and destination in tourism entrepreneurship also reflected in other studies (e.g., Daskalopoulou & Petrou, 2009;Ioannides & Petersen, 2003;Paniagua, 2002;Wilson et al, 2001), issues which are more seldom discussed in mainstream entrepreneurship research (Johnstone & Lionais, 2004). A small but growing area of mainstream entrepreneurship can be seen as related; the literature on community entrepreneurship (Borch, Førde, Rønning, Vestrum, & Alsos, 2008;Johannisson, 1990;Peredo & Chrisman, 2006;Vestrum & Rasmussen, 2013), though this link is seldom made.…”

Amenity/Lifestyle Migration in the Chilean Andes: Understanding the Views of “The Other” and Its Effects on Integrated Community Development

“…Migrants, wanted or not, however, can hold key assets to foster economic and social developmental processes, as the literature of amenity/lifestyle migration has noted [45,[69][70][71][72][73]. Rather than retreating to futile defensive positions, locals can take an active stance in voicing their view and working with the migrants towards shared identities and goals.…”

The Environment in the Process of Differentiation of New Social Fractions in Depopulated Areas of Spain: Key environmental considerations in the way from big cities to extreme rural areas

“…The third point, centres around the so-called individual atmosphere, where feelings of freedom come into play again, of mixed lifestyles and work activity, relaxation in the activity, moral satisfaction (relative to the moralising influence of Nature on the individual) perhaps all these perceptions can be summarised in the expression: '...I love my life more than I love money...' (Paniagua, 2002b), suggesting an integration of the individual with the environment surrounding him.…”