However, the study also raises an important concern: the mechanisms driving this effect seem to rely predominantly on non-structural interventions, which could pose challenges for long-term sustainability.

Using a counterfactual policy evaluation approach, the findings reveal that SNAI has positively contributed to improving the tourism performance of the municipalities involved.

Nearly a decade after the formal launch of the National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI), this study sheds fresh light on the Strategy’s impacts on one of the most recurring axes in its funded projects: tourism.