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Abstract
This study examines the impact of renovation plans on mature tourist destinations through the utilisation of multicriteria methodologies and participatory approaches, with a specific focus on Puerto de la Cruz in the Canary Islands. The tourism sector, characterised by instances of governmental intervention stemming from market inefficiencies and external factors, strikes a delicate equilibrium between individual economic interests and public regulations. This study highlights principal obstacles encountered in developed destinations, such as physical and operational outdating, underscoring the significance of adaptable, context-specific rejuvenation protocols. By employing the NAIADE multi-criteria evaluation technique, this research amalgamates both quantitative and qualitative information, comprising surveys, discussions, and geospatial data, to evaluate the efficacy of renovation efforts. The results underscore the advantages of integrating multi-criteria decision-making with participatory methodologies to analyse the results of the revitalization of tourist destinations. This methodology facilitates the inclusion of a variety of stakeholder viewpoints, thereby enriching the significance of the proposed methodology. The results from Puerto de la Cruz provide insights into how systematic and inclusive assessment frameworks can support the successful modernization of ageing tourist areas.
Keywords: multi-criteria assessment; tourist renewal; mature tourist destinations; participatory approaches; sustainable tourism.
1. Introduction
The tourism industry is widely regarded as a vital component of many economies, contributing significantly to GDP and employment (Sabah, 2019). However, as tourism activities expand, there is a growing need to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental/social sustainability (Thahir et al., 2020). The growth of tourism does not automatically translate into economic development; proper management and policy implementation is required to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the population. Garcıá et al. (2013) recognise that the positive relationship between tourism growth and economic development faces limitations, particularly in countries with lower levels of economic development, due to factors such as loss of control over local resources, limited pulling capacity relative to other sectors, and the leakage of potential profits. Moreover, because mature touristic destinations often face challenges such as infrastructure deterioration, environmental degradation, and loss of attractiveness, renewing these destinations is crucial for sustaining their appeal and economic viability.
Although tourism activity is fundamentally supported by the private sector, it constitutes one of the few fields of private business in which the business community welcomes public intervention. On the...