Tourism governance: Current situation and improvement proposals. A case study analysis

Abstract

This article analyzes the need to transform current tourism governance models into more inclusive and participatory frameworks. The study focuses on the case of the "Islantilla" destination and its Association of Municipalities (province of Huelva, Spain), comprised of the towns of Lepe and Isla Cristina. By employing a qualitative methodology, the transition from a traditional hierarchical structure toward network governance is diagnosed. Currently, a form of co-governance prevails, understood merely as a bilateral relationship between public administrations and business organizations. While this cooperation is necessary, it proves insufficient by ignoring other key actors. The study contends that a strategic alliance with the citizenry is fundamental to ensuring social sustainability and mitigating outbreaks of tourismphobia, understood not as a rejection of tourism per se, but as a reaction against growth models that exclude the local community. The results underscore the urgency of evolving from a 3Ps model (Public-Private Partnerships) to a 4Ps model (Public-Private-People Partnerships), integrating Stakeholder Theory and accountability mechanisms for effective reporting. In a mature democratic society, it is not sustainable to define the development model of a territory without the direct participation and endorsement of its residents. In conclusion, a permanent consultative body is proposed to transform citizen participation into the backbone of the destination's strategic planning.