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TOURISM&CREATIVE INDUSTRY WORKSHOP
Sustainable tourism, cultural tourism, creative tourism, culinary tourism, heritage & tourism
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of the last century. The causes of this degradation have been analyzed in
depth by several authors, both from the urban development standpoint and
the economic and social sides, being this last one the most incidental and
fundamental when planning a series of state interventions in a degraded,
segregated and marginal area.
In Schelling’s dynamic models [1], [2],[3] the individuals preferences are
set regarding the neighborhood area in which he is going to live, in such a
way that he will move to or remain in a determined area depending on the
neighborhood configuration. Thus it seems reasonable an individual will
not reach his level of “happiness” in a degraded area and as a consequence
of its neglect a worse deterioration of urban environment will take place,
due to both the lack of upkeep and the lack of new investments in public
goods and facilities.
Over the last few years local governments in these cities have got under
way schemes for urban regeneration and rehabilitation of those areas,
particularly in the degraded urban areas closest to the central districts.
This has been done not only to improve the urban environment, but also to
satisfy the demand for housing in cities in an expansion situation, in order
to avoid the sprawl effect - uncontrolled growth on the outskirts of the city
[4]. In most cases these rehabilitation plans envisage joint action between
the public and private sectors, in order to recover these areas, so as to
arouse greater residential, commercial, leisure and even tourist interest.
Mattos [5] states the main aim of public policies will be, in last instance,
to contribute to generate an attractive economic environment for private
investment.
The evaluation of this urban regeneration programs is a complex issue given
that several aspects are concerned: urban, cultural, social and economic
among others. Furthermore, the beneficial effects result in externalities
which have an impact on both the property and the economic activity in
the area. This impact is potentially quantifiable particularly insofar as the
housing demand is concerned: the increase in demand is materialized in
more promotions of newly built houses, more rehabilitation work and also
in a rise in the market values of property. Paul Lawless [6] analyzes and