Cordoba Researchers Honored for Tourism Research That Boosts Local Economies

Researchers María Genoveva Millán Vázquez de la Torre and María Genoveva Dancausa Millán have been awarded the Artistic Recognition #verysentirlacultura "Valencia, City of the Grail" for their significant contributions to promoting tourism as a tool for deseasonalization and territorial regeneration in Cordoba and Andalusia. The award, presented by the International Association Cultural Itinerary The Way of the Holy Grail in Europe https://elcaminodelsantogrial.eu/, recognizes scientific work that connects agri-food and cultural heritage with sustainable tourism, transforming local traditions into economic opportunities.

The research provides concrete data on tourism impact in the province, offering strategic value for businesses and administrations. Professor Dancausa Millán's study surveyed 470 oleotourists between October 2023 and June 2024, revealing that 50.1% of gastronomic tourists are primarily motivated by learning about production processes in oil mills, wineries, or factories, while 40.8% seek to taste local cuisine. The analysis identifies middle-aged visitors with medium to higher education levels and moderate purchasing power, with 57.4% being men and 42.6% women, predominantly aged 50-59 years (30.4%) followed by 30-39 years (27.5%).

Professor Millán Vázquez de la Torre extends this focus to rural and heritage tourism, identifying visitor segments seeking authenticity, nature, and heritage through thematic routes linked to wine, oil, or ham, plus emerging modalities like religious tourism. Her research enables demand segmentation by motivation, spending, origin, and season, creating useful tools for tourism product design. The international projection of Andalusian cultural, gastronomic, religious, and rural heritage has been enhanced through the Journal of Tourism and Heritage Research, which she directs, and the International Scientific-Professional Congress of Cultural Tourism.

This recognition, promoted by the Losan Clinical Optical Centre https://opticaclinicalosan.es/servicios-optica-valencia/ in its #verysentirlacultura program, marks a turning point by acknowledging academic work with direct economic and tourism planning impact. The award strengthens ties between the European Cultural Route of The Way of the Holy Grail and the Andalusian academic community, as both researchers disseminate culture and heritage from scientific perspectives. The International Association Cultural Itinerary The Way of the Holy Grail in Europe https://elcaminodelsantogrial.eu/ works to value historical, artistic, and spiritual heritage linked to the Holy Chalice of Valencia, encouraging territorial cooperation and projects uniting culture, science, and local development.

The Holy Chalice of Valencia's Cathedral maintains deep connections with Cordoba, as the base supporting the cup originated from the Caliphate of Cordoba. This historical link positions Cordoba as the starting point of the Andalusian route of The Way of the Holy Grail, an itinerary connecting cultural, artistic, and spiritual heritage from Andalusia to Valencia through Murcia. The research demonstrates how data-driven tourism approaches can transform local traditions into sustainable economic development while preserving cultural authenticity and heritage identity.