A New Framework for Tourism Sustainability and Its Prototyping in Pilot Areas

Abstract

This chapter highlights the research-action practices developed under the Phase 4 of the Interreg BEST MED Project (Beyond European Sustainable Tourism Med Path, Grant Number: 5987), “Testing.” In this project, stage was determinant to prototype and test the best practices towards sustainability, developed by the project's partners, detailing its achievements towards Mediterranean tourism sustainability, resulting from the ground-level operationalization of a theoretical and methodological framework. Here stakeholder participation is determinant to achieve breakthrough advances on more enduring and resilient touristic territories, addressing seasonality and lack of cooperation among tourist actors. This data gathering was developed among public officials, private operators, academics, third sector associations, and citizens in eight Mediterranean areas. Despite the common sustainable and cultural path model, different outputs were found from the participation and auscultation practices.