The “Tourism Excellence Plans” in Spain (1992-2006). Backing into the revitalization of destinations. Revising implementation and impacts

Abstract

In a context of tourist model reorientation, the “Excellence tourist Plans” have embodied one of the most remarkable initiatives within the Spanish tourist policy for they have outlined different actions directed to quality improvement in consolidated tourist destinations.

In this research we’ve analyzed the whole range of Spanish Excellence Plans, their spatial distribution and characteristics and the type of actions developed. In this sense, we observe that these plans have been mostly implemented in sun and sea destinations, but without underestimating the importance they have had for Heritage cities and for places of natural interest. It is remarkable that the majority of the projects have been mainly focused on urban structure and infrastructures of the destinations, although, finally, the plans have given an opportunity to counteract against stagnation and to achieve management and reorientation goals.