Tourism in regional development and its funding

Abstract

Tourism has become an important way of prosperity achievement and a regional developmental engine, especially in rural areas, through the use and exploitation of endogenous resources. This paper seeks to understand the relationship between tourism and regional development. To access this information, stakeholders were identified within this range of activities, guidelines that have been followed recently for the achievement of the proposed aims were pointed out and some funding instruments available that can be pursued were reviewed. In this study, relevant aspects of this issue were considered, such as economic, demographic, social, cultural, environmental and tourism perspectives. We tried to point out advantages, disadvantages and important factors that should be considered regarding strategies design. Finally, we found interesting performing an interview to the responsible of an organization that faces tourism but clearly is focused on regional development, such as the Association for North Ribatejo Integrated Development / Associação para o Desenvolvimento Integrado do Ribatejo Norte (ADIRN), aiming to understand and provide the remarkable information regarding the mode of action of these organizations in a practical view. Tourism is a remarkable factor of wealth equitable distribution among regions and of welfare for local populations, enhancing the development. In this context, local and regional entities, either public, private or associative, play a decisive role in planning and encouragement of regional tourism