Enhancing the Rural Heritage of Beniatjar (Vall d'Albaida, Valencian Country)

Abstract

Rural municipalities are suffering a constant loss of population, which places them at high risk of depopulation. Many of these municipalities have a valuable natural and cultural heritage that can be useful for revitalising the local economy. This article analyses the example of Beniatjar (Vall d’Albaida, Valencian Country), which has certain heritage values that could revive the ailing local economy. This paper aims to promote the economy of a rural municipality by outlining proposals that enhance the local heritage and, at the same time, help create jobs, stabilise the population, and maintain basic health and education services. We have worked with a multidisciplinary methodology to develop some sections of the proposed ideas, in order to make them more applicable in the near future.