CSR as a strategy for public-private relationships in protected island territories: Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

Abstract

This article reflects on governance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a competitive strategy. It shows that synergies for achieving sustainable tourism destinations require innovation, inter-business cooperation, and public-private cooperation. The empirical analysis focuses on the island of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. The island is an outermost territory of the European Union, where the high number of tourists has an important socio-environmental impact. Fuerteventura has also been designated a Biosphere Reserve due to respect for its cultural, natural and scenic values and the manner in which commitment to renewable energy, responsible water management and responsible fishing have contributed to its sustainable development. This recognition has led to a coordinated decision-making process, which has resulted in the implementation of different plans to modernize this tourist destination. In fact, the island has been divided into three basic zones that differ in the conservation levels pursued and the activities allowed in each of them. In this context, this article aims to analyze the influence of innovation, private-public collaboration and private-private collaboration on tourist accommodation companies regarding their level of integration of CSR in an island designated as a Biosphere Reserve.