The FiturNext Observatory announces the winning initiatives of the 2024 Challenge, focused on the fight against depopulation

05.12.2023 - 08:41 / traveldailynews.com / Vicky Karantzavelou

Genalguacil (Pueblo Museo), Recartografías and Camino del Cid are the winning projects of this edition in the categories of revitalising tourism services, management of depopulated territories and promotion of territories, respectively.

MADRID – FiturNext, the FITUR Observatory dedicated to promoting good tourism practices in terms of sustainability, unveils the winning initiatives of the 2024 Challenge, dedicated to how tourism can contribute to the revitalisation of territories. Genalguacil (Pueblo Museo), Recartografías and Camino del Cid are the winners in the three categories promoted by the Observatory: revitalising tourism services, management of depopulated territories and promotion of territories, respectively. The awards ceremony will take place on 24 January at the International Tourism Fair in Madrid (FITUR).

As every year, the research has focused on measuring, through two barometers developed by the FiturNext Observatory, the replicability and impact of the initiatives. The Replicability Barometer evaluates the possibilities of the initiative being adapted and replicated in different contexts, resources and actors. On the other hand, the Impact Barometer analyses the potential of the initiatives by measuring the degree of participation in the project, the previous work carried out and the impact on the environment where it operates, among other aspects. Finally, for the final solution, the conclusions of the FiturNext Advisory Boardhave been considered, which has provided an external assessment of an international nature.

Tourism can be a tool for the demographic, social and economic revitalisation of rural areas. The three winning initiatives have this premise as a guide to boost the growth of visitors and residents by promoting the destination’s tourism offer, as well as employment, connectivity and local values.

On the other hand, Genalguacil (Pueblo Museo), winner of the revitalising tourism services category, is a local project located in the province of Málaga (Spain) which, by fusing art, culture, tradition and nature, has created a village-museum with tourist appeal that has been helping for years to improve and repopulate this municipality. In this way they have turned the village into an open-air museum available all year round, which already has more than 20,500 visitors in just one year.

Specifically, Recartografías, winner of the management of depopulated territories category, is an association from Teruel (Spain) that offers tourism activities, workshops and training talks in different formats and themes with the aim of restoring and revitalising the village using endogenous values. An example of the actions carried out by the project has been the opening of the Farmhouse