Heritage is a very complex concept that is characterized by having multiple meanings. Despite this, there is no doubt as to its attraction for carrying out tourist activities. In the specific case of cultural heritage, there is widespread agreement in considering it as a tourist resource given the interest it raises amongst visitors of all origins. This is not, however, always the case and it can be observed that in certain areas, especially rural ones, certain limitations exist. They are caused by multiple factors such as the importance of the resource itself, although the distance to the main centers of tourist attraction is also considered a key point. Due to this, the study puts forward the need for joining forces and attractions in order to create tourist itineraries based on a peculiar kind of resource: Historical Ensembles. In order to achieve this aim, we used the network analysis tools included in a geographical information system and applied it to a rural context, which was that of Extremadura in Spain. To be precise, the closest facility and service area tools were used. The results of the various analyses reflect the real possibility of generating tourist itineraries as a first step in the design of tourist products. In this way, the administration can be provided with a management tool capable of laying the foundations of a coherent and efficient tourist policy.

The harmonious development of tourism activity in rural areas must be based on effective tourism plans adapted to the territory. To achieve this, it is necessary that the tourist potential of the area be taken into consideration. However, the tourist attraction capacity is not always considered, which has led to a significant increase in the number of rural lodgings. This has caused strong imbalances in Extremadura, Spain. On the basis of this premise, in this research study, we aim to determine whether there is an adjustment between the main factors that attract rural tourists to the study area. To determine this, we make use of different geostatistical procedures based on spatially weighted regression models (GWR and MGWR). A comparative study is conducted using these models, on the basis of which it is deduced that one type of regression offers advantages over the other. However, the results show that neither regression models can explain the presence of rural accommodation in places that do not meet the requirements demanded by tourists. This fact shows that the increase in the supply of rural accommodation follows unsuitable patterns in some cases, which translates into numerous problems, such as low occupancy levels. In this study, it is concluded that there is no strong relationship between the attractiveness of a territory and its volume of supply, highlighting the need to rethink tourism plans in order to adjust them relative to reality.

The current literature considers agritourism as a valid option for promoting the development of rural areas. This would be achieved by increasing agricultural incomes. However, numerous scientific studies have revealed the difficulty in reaching a consensus on the very concept of agritourism. In addition, the definition of agritourism is rarely related to the opinion of the demand. For this reason, this research aimed to understand the idea that tourists have about this variety. To this end, more than 500 surveys were carried out, from which the tourists’ conception of agritourism and the activities it entails were deduced. Other questions were also analyzed to determine whether the conception varies between those who have already performed this type of activity and those who have not yet had the opportunity to do so. From this, we can deduct the interest that visitors have in agritourism products, evidencing their potential. This interest is deduced through the visualization of different landscapes and activities of interest to tourists. Under these four central points, the aim was to understand the aims of agritourism in Extremadura (Spain). At the methodological level, a combination of descriptive statistics and spatial statistics was used, highlighting the use of cluster analysis. The results show a significant lack of knowledge of the meaning of agritourism, especially among those who have never practiced it, and of the activities associated with it. At the same time, the selection of landscapes preferred by tourists makes it possible to establish areas with potential for the development of these activities. Likewise, knowing which activities are of interest to tourists also helps to generate complementary activities and to better target the design of agrotourism products.

The boom of rural tourism in Extremadura (Spain) has been promoted by different administrations, both national and European, through multiple initiatives carried out for several decades. However, it has been developed in a generic way, ignoring the potential of agricultural landscapes for the development of agritourism as a specific variety. Therefore, this research aims to know the opinion of rural lodging owners in order to understand how the activity can be reoriented towards a more specific one, taking advantage of the potential of this type of tourist attraction. For this purpose, information has been collected through surveys to these owners. By carrying out a statistical analysis and a territorial analysis, it is possible to know their socio-demographic structure, as well as the characteristics of the accommodations and other aspects related to the activities they offer to tourists. Following the analyses, characteristics such as age, level of education and sources of income were identified, revealing a lack of knowledge of agritourism. It was also discovered that many lodgings could offer agritourism activities due to the presence of farms and attractive landscapes for tourists. However, there was a lack of activities related to agriculture and livestock, which represents a missed opportunity for the development of agritourism. The territorial analysis showed patterns of activity supply in certain areas, suggesting the possibility of promoting the sustainable development of rural areas through the diversification of tourism activities. Perhaps the main conclusion that can be drawn is the need to take advantage of the attractive landscape and the presence of activity companies to promote the economic and social development of rural areas, contributing to the conservation of traditions and the fight against depopulation.