Tourism and consumption of urban space in Barcelona. Analysis of the resident-tourist relationship in the La Barceloneta neighbourhood

Abstract

Public policies and mass tourism have promoted new urban logic associated with the gentrification process, which includes real estate speculation and the commercialization of public space. For the contextualization of this problem, which implies the relationship between residents, tourists and real estate agents / tourists, was chosen the La Barceloneta neighbourhood, in whose scenario it is observed how the demand of the visitors disagrees with the needs of the residents and how tourism activities affect the daily lives of its citizens. Likewise, this paper evaluates the socio-territorial impacts that cause a greater level of neighbourhood rejection, as well as claims and protests that require the regulation of housing for tourist use (VUT) and the use of public space, which has been achieved, although not entirely, through the approval of the PEUAT.