Islands on the move: Non-mass tourism and migration in El Hierro (Spain) and Pico (Portugal)

El Hierro (Spain) and Pico (Portugal), UNESCO World Heritage Sites, represent a unique typology of island tourism development, defying traditional classifications. Unlike mass-tourism destinations, these islands attract a mix of lifestyle migrants, economic immigrants, and return migrants who drive the transition from pre-tourism economies to tourism-dominated ones. This shift is fueled by globalization, digitalization, and EU integration, reshaping local productive models. The study highlights how international migration plays a pivotal role in the early stages of these islands' tourism life cycles, positioning them as innovative case studies in island economic and social transformation.

Mendoza, C., Domínguez-Mujica, J., & Parreño-Castellano, J. M. (2025). Islands on the move: Non-mass tourism and migration in El Hierro (Spain) and Pico (Portugal). Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights, 6(1), 100171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annale.2025.100171