Renovación de destinos litorales maduros a partir del patrimonio cultural: Plan Costa Blanca Cultura

El destino turístico Costa Blanca se caracteriza por la existencia de una amplia oferta turística y por su situación privilegiada respecto a los mercados potenciales de demanda. En la actualidad, ambas características no son suficientes para garantizar la competitividad de este espacio; en un contexto turístico enormemente dinámico en el que la diversidad de elementos de atracción y la imagen del destino puede incidir en la decisión de viaje de los turistas. Por ello, ante la necesidad de acometer procesos de renovación del destino Costa Blanca que permitan garantizar la competitividad de la actividad en términos territoriales y económicos, se apuesta por el patrimonio cultural como uno de los argumentos que mayores posibilidades puede ofrecer desde el ámbito de la planificación del destino turístico para diseñar y ejecutar actuaciones encaminadas a la renovación del mismo. Así, la presente comunicación se basa en los principales resultados obtenidos en el Plan Costa Blanca Cultura, con el objetivo de analizar el grado de uso turístico del patrimonio cultural de la provincia de Alicante, para a partir de un diagnóstico previo, proponer estrategias y actuaciones encaminadas al diseño y gestión posterior de productos temáticos de naturaleza cultural. La metodología de trabajo se ha basado entre otras acciones, en la participación de los agentes turísticos y sociales, aspecto que ha llevado a la selección de las líneas de trabajo prioritarias basadas en temas que superarían la dicotomía entre litoral e interior otorgando al patrimonio un papel integrador del territorio, y a la propuesta de un modelo de gestión innovador en el destino Costa Blanca.

The evolution of mass tourism destinations: new approaches beyond deterministic models in Benidorm (Spain)

Although deterministic models of the evolution of mass tourism coastal resorts predict an almost inevitable decline over time, theoretical frameworks of the evolution and restructuring policies of mature destinations should be revised to reflect the complex and dynamic way in which these destinations evolve and interact with the tourism market and global socio-economic environment. The present study examines Benidorm because its urban and tourism model and large-scale tourism supply and demand make it one of the most unique destinations on the Mediterranean coast. The investigation reveals the need to adopt theories and models that are not purely deterministic. The dialectic interplay between external factors and the internal factors inherent in this destination simultaneously reveals a complex and diverse stage of maturity and the ability of destinations to create their own future.

The relevance of harmonising the technical level of social housing with the urban level of the neighbourhood through the example of the 500 dwellings in Albacete

The Architecture and Household Trade Union built nearly 2,000 subsidized dwellings in Albacete from 1941 to 1971. It was the responsible entity from the end of the Civil War until the beginning of Democracy of the social policy programs in Spain. Later on, and together with the National Housing Institute, were responsible for the construction activity. Its limited budget, scarcity of technical and human resources and an urgent need for new housing developments, constituted the basis for producing a vast housing market of low construction qualities. However, thanks to the true architectonic expertise of some of the professionals, some of the developments were designed with a clear urban strategy and in direct relation with the city, which characterizes them to be studied and conserved. This is the case for the selected development for the analysis, the urban complex of the 500 dwellings in Albacete, the Hermanos Falcó Neighborhood. Designed and built between 1963, Alfonso Crespo and Adolfo Gil architects, and 1977 second reformed project by the architect Fernando Rodríguez. It is characterized by its layout on the territory, its controlled relation with the city and its different types of open blocks. Above all, its spatial and human scale strengths, directly related to the European post-war proposals, have to be emphasized; although its technical deficiencies affect the interior quality of the houses. This paper examines its virtues and failures and proposes, using current tools, its renovation. This proposal main aims are to extend its lifetime and develop the particular and urban sustainability levels.

Tourism potential analysis of the castles of Vinalopó, Spain: an opportunity for social and tourist development of cultural heritage

Within the overall framework of the renewal process of coastal tourist destinations, cultural heritage has frequently been used as a key argument for the introduction and development of strategies for the diversification and differentiation of the traditional tourist product based on sun and sand. This is the situation of the province of Alicante, identified with the Costa Blanca geotourism brand, where there are important economic issues that could contribute to the renewal of this coastal tourist destination. One of the most significant heritage values of this space consists of a series of medieval fortresses located along the axis of the Vinalopó River, which has acted since prehistoric times as a natural route from within the provincial mainland to the coast. It is precisely the argument of this historical, territorial and landscape content that has been used repeatedly in recent years to develop initiatives aimed at the creation of a tourist product, currently inexistent, based on the route of the castles of Vinalopó. This communication aims to analyse the degree of tourism potential of the fortresses located in the towns of Biar, Banyeres de Mariola, Sax, Villena, Novelda, Elda, Petrer and Elche, which constitute the core of municipalities where these medieval fortresses are located, finally pointing out some proposals for the creation of a heritage tourism product.