Assessing sustainability in rural tourism: insights from accommodation managers and residents in Navarre

Abstract

This paper aims to assess the sustainability of rural tourism in the Spanish region of Navarre, with a focus on its economic, environmental and sociocultural dimensions. To adopt a holistic perspective, we first analysed secondary data from local residents provided by the Navarre Tourism Observatory. Subsequently, we conducted a survey among rural accommodation managers to gain insights from the tourism supply side. The combined approach allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how rural tourism is evolving in the region. Our findings reveal a range of successful practices, as well as challenges that persist. In that vein, rural tourism contributes to economic development and cultural preservation; however, concerns such as overcrowding, low job quality and environmental degradation remain unaddressed. Moreover, certain geographic areas are falling behind in implementing sustainable tourism practices, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. To ensure long-term viability, it is essential to promote responsible tourism practices, support community well-being and alleviate environmental pressures. Additionally, involving local communities in tourism planning helps ensure an equitable distribution of benefits and fosters the preservation of natural and cultural heritage. Among the three sustainability dimensions, the environmental domain holds the greatest potential for improvement. Actionable recommendations include policies to manage visitor flow, promote responsible tourism practices, and enhance stakeholder collaboration. We argue that this research offers valuable guidance in sustainable tourism development, particularly for regions highly dependent on tourism and comparable in size and characteristics to Navarre.