**Monica Roman**

Monica Roman (PhD) is an assistant professor in the Department of Logistics, Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS). Her research interests include several topics: spatial economies, agricultural economics, quantitative methods, transport, logistics systems in agribusiness, and optimization of logistics processes in enterprises. She is the author or co-author of more than 60 scientific publications. She has participated in foreign internships at University College Cork (Ireland), the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences (Ukraine), and the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (Czech Republic). She has been a reviewer and a gues<sup>t</sup> co-editor for several international journals. She is a member of the Polish Logistics Society, Polish Society of Production Management, and Association of Agricultural Economists and Agribusiness.

#### *Article* **Sustainable Economy and Development of the Rural Territory: Proposal of Wine Tourism Itineraries in La Axarquía of Malaga (Spain)**

**Gorka Zamarreño-Aramendia 1,\*, Elena Cruz-Ruiz 2 and Elena Ruiz-Romero de la Cruz 1**


**Abstract:** The certification of Malaga and Ronda wine route, within the model of certified wine routes in Spain, has given a new boost to wine tourism in Malaga. The study focuses on La Axarquía, located on the Eastern Costa del Sol in Southern Spain, which has been a reference point in the wine business since ancient times and has its own identity. This research aims at elaborating a diagnosis of the territory related to the possibilities offered by the area, from the perspective of the heritage resources and services provided by the winemakers outlining two efficient enotourism itineraries that enhance the value of the territory's resources. The methodology used starts with the study of the territory in order to profile the existing resources, a task that was complemented by the analysis of the documentary sources required in order to understand the peculiarities of the territory. From there, a process of interviews was carried out between April and November 2019 with 100% of the winemakers and around 70% of the territory's agents. The results of the research are specified in a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, which has allowed evaluating the possibilities of the enotourist development in La Axarquía, which is complemented with a proposal of two possible itineraries that will promote such development of the rural territory. The conclusions convey the possibilities of the territory of a tourist segmen<sup>t</sup> which puts its resources to good use and moves forward the deseasonalization and destructuring of tourism in Malaga, especially on the Eastern Costa del Sol, according to criteria of efficiency and profitability with wine as a reference, although it could be applied to other gastronomic and cultural resources linked to the tourist sector in other geographical areas.

**Keywords:** economy; sustainable development; wine routes; Axarquía; rural tourism
