TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND HERITAGE: TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED

APPROACH FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN RENEWAL IN HERITAGE SETTINGS

OF GRANADA.
C. Curiel Sanz; G. Ruiz Zafra
University of Granada (Spain)
curielcarolina@gmail.com
Interest in influencing the transformation of the existing city, considered as an area of
economic opportunity 1, has been a constant feature in the history of urbanism. In the last few
decades, the process of urban renewal in Europe have highlighted the importance of balance
between tourism, society and heritage in order to achieve the objectives of economic
development, social revitalization and environmental protection 2.
The debate often focuses on the effects that result from the growth of urban tourism, as a new
driving force for economic activity, combined with the promotion of cultural heritage as a
leisure activity. Diversification of facilities for tourism could lead, for instance, to a process of
touristification 3 -or influencing the gentrification process of a certain place-. As a result,
comprehensive and integrated policy strategies are required.
Granadas wide and enriching heritage has been sought after by tourists and travellers since
the XIX century, and it allows this case study to evaluate and identify possible links between
the enhancement of architectural heritage and tourism development around the citys historic
landmarks. Similarly, it also helps us understand how all this is relevant to local development in
such a way that it may bring us closer to a solution that guides future experiences for an
integrated urban and social regeneration.
KEYWORDS: Urban Renewal, Tourism, Local Development, Heritage Environments, Granada

lvarez Mora, Los Centros Urbanos (1980).

Overall, Sustainable Development involves the integration of three fundamental pillars: economic
development, social equality and environmental protection. In European historical centers, these pillars are
represented mainly by the trinomial tourism-society-heritage.
3 New infrastructure (e. g. expansion of the hotel sector), and new functions (leisure, amusement,
entertainment, shopping) take the place of traditional urban functions. The risk of upsetting the balance of the
urban system by a dominance of the tourism function is real. Myriam Jansen-Verbeke, Urban tourism.
Managing resources and visitors in Tourism, development and growth: the challenge of sustainability (1997)
and Myriam Jansen-Verbeke and Els Lievois, Analysing heritage resources for urban tourism in European
cities in Contemporary Issues in Tourism Development (1999).
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Sustainable Development Symposium | 6th annual European postgraduate symposium | 1