The evolution of mature Mediterranean sun, sea and sand destinations: a model for analyzing periods of decline applied to the cases of Gandia and Cullera

The 1960s brought unprecedented tourist development of the Mediterranean coast that gave rise to the indisputable imposition the new model for tourism: mass sun, sea and sand tourism. This article analyzes the behavior of this tourism model during the two recent periods of crisis in Spain (the first economic, 2008, and then health-related, 2020) in the Valencian tourist resorts of Gandia and Cullera. Using a methodology based on a review of benchmark models and the analysis of mainly quantitative information, a model for analys-ing the evolution of tourist destinations is developed in order to identify their current stage of development. The results obtained support the model's functionality and its capacity to help understand the evolution of this type of destination. Finally, it is concluded that these models need to be adapted to the specific reality of each location.