La Potenciación del Turismo Rural a través del Programa LEADER

Abstract

According to the local development premises, rural tourism has been considered as a way for the undeveloped rural spaces improvement. It has been conceived as a complement, and in many cases, in line with the areas where it takes place, even as a real alternative to agricultural incomes. These areas have been taking into account by the EC, which has promoted the rural tourism role through several programs. One of the most important is the LEADER. LEADER program was an unexpected subvention for La Montaña of Alicante, and consequently its application has been limited by the inexperience in management and the lack of basic infrastructures. That is why the introduction of a completely new economic activity in the area is very difficult. The succes of the first LEADER program has been conditioned by the short period to carry it into effect, the deficient spread of information, the reduced percentages of the grant and the high concentration of the subventions in the actions which have been carried out by public organisms.