1 Summary of the study Marked paths and sustainable rural development
2 Index Introduction 3 Who has made the study 4 Which are the trails studied 5 Conclusions 6
3 1. Introduction The paths keep alive the history of the places they travel. Are closely linked to the history, traditions, customs, lifestyles and communication systems of the population. Today, walking to retrieve the memory of a collective heritage of great value that offers residents and visitors. In Spain, ninety percent of the territory is rural, but only twenty percent of the population live in it. The progressive loss of population in recent decades requires taking steps to stay in the countryside is attractive and has future prospects. It is essential to reduce the imbalances that have been created, mainly in services and quality of life, in order to provide equal opportunities than in urban areas. The trails provide an opportunity, perhaps unique to small towns can be placed on a map of tourist attractions, offering their natural and cultural resources through coordinated strategies which will play a key role new technologies of information.
4 2. Who has made the study In the twentieth century, the mountaineers were one of the few groups who approached villages with tortuous communications, isolated, without services and surrounded by rugged mountains. And are the cause of the birth of hiking (walking), sports phenomenon in the seventies, when only mountaineering federations dealing with signaling paths. The Spanish Federation of Mountain and Climbing Sports (FEDME)has offered its support to the General Direction for Sustainable Rural Development on knowlegde subjects both because mountaineers are usually associated with rural areas as their knowledge of hiking in Europe and their experience in the design and signaling pathways. The Mountains Scientific Advisory Board of FEDME consists of thirty doctors and graduates from different fields of knowledge and different regions that are mountaineers. Twelve of them have been responsible for conducting the study "Marked Paths and Sustainable Rural Development." Twelve of them have been responsible for conducting the study "Marked Paths and Sustainable Rural Development." The study incorporates thirty recommendations that will be useful to assess whether new trails projects meet or not rural development objectives. We analyzed ten paths from different autonomies chosen with the following criteria: Between 40 and 60 kilometers long. Browse more than 10 autonomous communities. Spend two days, with an overnight stay in the territory. Selected at least one of each of these three categories: o o o Green Path Natural Trail GR, Great Tour Select at least one of religious motivations. Another one opened in the last five years. One historical, traveled from ancient times.. Include at least one that runs through island areas. And another belonging to local networks
5 3. Which are the trails studied Camí de Cavalls (Baleric Islands) Camino de la Virgen (Cannary Islands) Camino de Santiago (La Rioja-Castilla y León) Camino del Ebro (Cantabria-Castilla y León) Las Alpujarras (Andalucía). Los Oscos (Principality of Asturias) Ports de Beceite o Els Ports (Cataluña-Aragón-Comunidad Valenciana) Ruta de Don Quijote (Castilla-La Mancha) Vía de la Plata (Extremadura-Castilla y León) Vía Verde Subbética (Andalucía)
6 4. Conclusions The paths are a reflection of the history, lifestyles and communication systems of the population, hiking renews their value, preventing their disappearance and facilitating conservation. 1. Trails enhance rural development when their design is completed with the collaboration of the local population, to create networks and connect landscapes. 2. Proper planning and good construction attracts hikers, benefits the local population, strengthens social cohesion and puts the area on the map. 3. The range of trails in Spain offers a great heterogeneity due to the geographical diversity of the country and landscape. 4. The conversion process of old trails to a marked path often unites in a common project various government offices. 5. A single path varies in quality, depending on the commitment to maintenance of the various authorities involved. 6. In the absence of a comprehensive and coordinated tourist product, companies and municipalities that benefit from the traffic of walkers are not involved in the development and maintenance of the trail. 7. The services sector benefits from the promotion of walking, but companies are affected by seasonality due to a climate with strong contrasts. 8. Despite the growing trend of themed trails, there is often not enough information on important milestones. Summary, 1. The paths, marked trails and hiking are integrators. 2. Foster social cohesion, allow you to discover the potential of the territories and their natural and cultural resources, and can also serve as an economic engine in those places where the social network is weakened. 3. The marketing and signage of pathways has economic effects if it attracts hikers from distant places. 4. Good marketing and signage of pathways is not the only factor in the socio-economic importance, but a coordinated set of elements that produce the success of the route