Strategy for sustainable agricultural tourism in MED GIAHS sites

This strategy sets the common framework for the development of actions promoting sustainable rural tourism in GIAHS territories. Being a long-term strategy, it sets the objectives and the tools to achieve measurable results on tourist visibility, an increase of visitors and, especially, an improvement of the agrarian incomes in these territories. This improvement allows the reinforcement of the ecosystem services serving as an example to any Med territory with similar characteristics to GIAHS.

Open

Project MED-GIAHS

Mission Sustainable Tourism

Production year 2025

Type of result Strategy

Target audience Higher education and research organisation, Interest groups incl. NGOs, Local public authority, National public authority, Regional public authority, Sectoral agency

Covered areas Rural area

Keywords Environmental and sustainability policy engagement, Eu tourism transition pathway, Sustainable management of natural resources

Partners Regional Ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and rural development of Andalusia (CAPADR)

Issues addressed

The strategy addresses the need for a structured, participatory, and context-sensitive approach to support sustainable agricultural tourism in GIAHS territories while safeguarding biodiversity, traditional knowledge, cultural landscapes, and rural livelihoods. GIAHS sites face mounting pressures from climate change, globalization, rural depopulation, and the declining profitability of traditional production systems. The strategy responds by positioning tourism as a complementary tool for generating income, strengthening local communities, and contributing to the dynamic conservation of agricultural heritage systems.

Added value of the result

This strategy bridges regional planning and bottom-up action by upgrading previous frameworks (like SUDOE VALSIPAM) into an Euro-MED multi-stakeholder setting. It delivers an actionable system based on three pillars: tailored training, co-created authentic agri-food products and digital marketing. Its main breakthrough is the systematic integration of a climate change adaptation lens across all phases. By including carbon footprint metrics, low-carbon itineraries and resilience indicators, it successfully shifts agrotourism from a basic business tool into an active safeguard for fragile ecosystems.

Transferability potential

The strategy has very strong transferability because it is explicitly designed as a replicable model for other GIAHS sites and similar agricultural heritage systems. Its structure, phases, and methodological tools can be adapted to different territorial contexts with varying levels of tourism development. Successful implementation requires committed local leadership, active stakeholder participation, reliable territorial knowledge, coordination among public and private actors, and sufficient organisational and financial capacity. Ongoing monitoring, local adaptation, and sustained community involvement are also essential.

Contribution to SDGs

SDG 12 - Responsible consumption and production, SDG 15 - Life on land, SDG 8 - Decent work and economic growth

Contribution to the Strategies and EU Policies

EU Adaptation Strategy, EU Biodiversity Strategy, EU Tourism Transition Pathway