When discussing about tourism and development, a clear understanding is required in order to value the complex links and connexions between the tourist industry and the economical development process (Alger, 1988). Over the last few decades, new information has revealed the essential connection between the economical development of a territory, centred on its acts and the local surrounding areas. (Váquez-Barquero, 1999: 27). These territories have increasedtheir roles in playing a vital part in global and local development (Storper, 1997: 3).
To understand these new ideas, it is necessary to look at the process of globalization, which helps towards the growth of understanding global capitalism (Hudson and William, 1999; Knox and Agnew, 2002).
In this way, the tourist industry as a whole, can gain importance as a fundamental instrument in global change, from a regional and local point of view. We have to value the importance of tourism which can act as a vital tool in the potential of economical development. (Milne and Altejevic, 2001; Merinero et al., 2014).
During the last few decades, studies have been made to analyse populated areas. These areas areno longer seenas mere geographical regions. Social science sectors have begun to study the elements linked to these areas of interest or stakeholders, local economy and the possible alternatives of economical change (population, visitors, workers, governments, entrepreneurs, culture, and local resources). Consequently, discussions have begun to talk about the economical development in such territories (Amin, 1989; Sayer, 1995).
Currently, and with respect to everything that has occurred in other European regions, Andalusia is in a process of a structural change where the local entities are acquiring a growing recognition based on the enhancement of the value of their resources in developing tourism. (Pulido-Fernández and Sánchez-Rivero, 2010), with the belief that these activities have a strong and positive affect on the whole economy.
In this context, as a hypothesis of this investigation, it´s established that the level of dynamic touristic economy is influenced by the level of socio-economic development (SD). In other words, the most dynamic territories from a touristic point of view are the ones that experiment with a higher degree of social-economic development, which shows that tourism is an important tool for its development.
To verify this hypothesis, two indictors have been created to measure the level of touristic economy and SD on this subject matter. Andalusian communities verify whether there is any connection between both indicators and by creating a classification of these municipalities it allows us to obtain some solid conclusions.
The results obtained in this investigation have allowed the verification of the hypothesis. It is clear that the most dynamic territories from a touristic point of view are the ones that have experimented a higher level of SD. Consequently, tourism can be an essential instrument in its development, as long as they are able to fulfil the necessary conditions for the touristic activities and therefore the creation of wealth, with the objective to promote and maintain the prosperity or economical and social wellbeing of the population of these territories.
On the other hand, two indexes have been developed (EDT index and SD index) which have helped to classify the analyzed municipalities and obtain conclusions of the analyzed variables. In particular when considering the EDT index, we can firstly confirm that the coast-line destinations have shown a higher EDT during the analyzed period. In fact, eleven out of the twenty-five municipalities have determined the ranking are these types of destinies. In addition, the first ten correspond to the touristic dynamics linked to the sun and the beach, except for “Arcos de la Frontera”. We are now able to conclude that the main argument to explain the dynamism of the Andalusian touristic destinies is due to the costal influence and, consequently, sun and beach tourism.
It´s also possible to find other arguments that explain these touristic dynamics. For example, cities like Arcos de la Frontera and Antequera are part of a different type of destination of which offer a patrimonial resource and cultural attractions, as well as being orientated in the direction of an urban-cultural tourism market.
Also, municipalities like Mairena del Aljarafe or Dos Hermanas are included in this ranking, whose touristic dynamism is due to it is proximity to Seville, a city with a large touristic attraction that has influences in a positive way all the surrounding areas of this town.
In fourth place, one can highlight a group of rural municipalities, like Serón, Láujar de Andarax, Fuenteheridos, Tabernas or Castellar de la Frontera, which are known to add potential natural resources and cultural-gastronomic wealth benefiting the rural development, creating a rural touristic attraction.
If we take into account the SD index, we can also conclude that the municipalities of the Andalusian coasts, especially all the coast of Málaga, are mainly the ones to feature the higher SD during the analyzed period. Together with these municipalities there are some others that make up the metropolitan areas of Seville (Tomares, Mairena del Aljarfe), Granada (La Zubia) and Almería (Huércal de Almería).
Nevertheless, some important municipalities have appeared at the Top25 of the SD index ranking that don´t form part of the Top25 of the EDT index ranking, providing further evidence that shows that there are municipalities with a SD that isn´t necessarily to do with a higher EDT but of other considerations, which have had a greater influence in the SD than in their own touristic activities.
It has been proven that even in the well-established touristic destinations the main source behind the SD isn´t tourism, although it is responsible for the economical activities that boost it. The fair climate, along with good easy-access infrastructures, the life-style, high socializing and understanding of social relations abilities, etc. have turned these territories into a popular area for secondary homes (inclusive first homes for foreigners) and, consequently, favourable for property development. These are behaviour situations that are important to avoid if we want to ensure the success of these territories as high quality touristic destinations.
In these cases, the roles of the government are crucial to guarantee sound territorial planning and an efficient use of resources. Also, to break up the dangerous instumentalization of tourism to justify the dynamics of property development that keeps being valued as a significant role in promoting the touristic cycles which is in every way a false one and its done out of personal interest but it doesn´t favour tourism, on the contrary, it has reverse effect upon the territory and population.
On the other hand, tourism can contribute to the SD of a territory in a way that is has multiplying effects on the rest of economical sectors and on productional activities, as long as the connection between these different sector activities are ensured. Once again, this fact raises the need to guarantee a suitable preparation of the touristic activities and a co participation and shared management, where all the implied factors of the touristic development of whichever territory are involved.
In spite of the fact that the results obtained have allowed to verify this hypothesis, it should be acknowledged, however that there is an important limitation when carrying out this investigation. As explained in the methodological section, the availabity of disaggregated information at municipalities level is very limited, which is why it has been difficult to arrange some indicators to measure the two analyzed variables (EDT and SD). Henceforth, one of the future work proposals taken out during this analysis is the construction of a system of indicators which allow us to measure both variables with absolute reliability.
Another restriction that is important to take into account is the current economic crisis which has affected the results obtained, this makes it necessary to repeat the same analysis with the up-to-date data once the statistic resources allow this update.
Finally, although one has been able to demonstrate that there is a direct and positive relation between EDT and SD, the most interesting thing is the identification of the aspects that favour or constrain this connection. Henceforth, the next step in a future investigation would be to identify these factors and ultimately explain why the occupied areas in the formulated rankings by the municipalities aren´t the same, and in addition an advanced and detailed study of each case. Classification-JEL: R1 Keywords: Dinamismo Económico Del Turismo, Desarrollo Socioeconómico, Competitividad de destinos turísticos, Modelo de Ecuaciones Estructurales, Andalucía (españa), Economic Dynamism of Tourism, Socioeconomic Development, Tourism destination, Structural Equation Modeling, Andalusia (spain) Pages: 87-120 Volume: 3 Year: 2016 File-URL: http://www.revistaestudiosregionales.com/documentos/articulos/pdf-articulo-2505.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:rer:articu:v:3:y:2016:p:87-120