Abstract
Rural communities in crisis-affected regions often face not only the loss of infrastructure and livelihoods but also the erosion of intangible cultural systems that define their identity. This paper proposes a hybrid framework that combines community-based tourism recovery strategies with the preservation and regeneration of rural civilization, drawing on the case of the Marrakech-El Haouz region in Morocco following the 2023 earthquake. By integrating perspectives from sustainable tourism and rural civilization studies, we argue that disaster recovery presents an opportunity not only to rebuild physical structures but also to revive social, spiritual, and economic dimensions of rural life. Using participatory methodologies and field insights, the paper explores how cooperatives, cultural knowledge systems, and traditional rural governance structures can be mobilized through a tri-sector approach involving public institutions, private tourism actors, and community-based NGOs. The proposed framework emphasizes the role of tourism not as an extractive industry, but as a platform for cultural continuity and resilience. We investigate how heritage-led tourism can support local economies while reinforcing the values, rhythms, and structures of rural civilization, especially in mountainous and marginalized regions. Ultimately, the paper contributes to emerging discussions on post-disaster regeneration, offering a model that bridges sustainability, cultural preservation, and systemic innovation in rural development.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—Pathways to Resilience; Sustainable Practices in Tourism and Leisure
KEYWORDS
Rural Civilization Community-Based Tourism Post-Disaster Recovery Sustainable Tourism Cultural Resilience
