The Role of Cooperation and Tourism in Rural Development—Long-term Research Activities in the Alpujarra of Almería (Spain)

Insufficient cooperation and a lack of continuity are frequently identified problems in rural development processes. Specific individual initiatives are often neither sufficiently coordinated nor accompanied by the necessary research work. More knowledge is required about cooperation, governance structures and success factors in rural development practices. Sparsely populated mountain areas in Andalusia face particular challenges, but they also have specific potentials and opportunities to make rural development processes more dynamic, including the promotion of sustainable tourism. Well-preserved, diverse natural and cultural heritage can be a fundamental resource, although its valorisation is a challenging process that needs cooperation and continuous efforts at different levels. Various mountain villages in the Alpujarra—a scenic landscape on the southern slopes of Sierra Nevada—have together become a famous destination for hiking and rural tourism. These villages are in the western part of the Alpujarra, which belongs to the province of Granada. By contrast, the eastern part of the Alpujarra in the province of Almería is less well-known and is lagging behind. In this chapter, we present some results of long-term research activities about the role of cooperation and tourism in rural development in small municipalities in the semi-arid east of the “unknown Alpujarra”.