Dynamics of protest and participation in the governance of tourism in Barcelona: a strategic action field perspective

Abstract

The trend of private interest groups influencing governance processes has recently gained prominence in the urban tourism domain, along with a strong increase in resident protests against the tourism sector and policy in many urban destinations worldwide. However, governance of tourism studies have so far paid only marginal attention to protests taking place ‘outside’ the formal governance arena. Moreover, relatively limited attention has been paid to large and mature urban destinations–often with more complex institutional bodies and a wider variety of stakeholders involved in tourism governance. Our article aims to understand why and how resident protests and contestation continue intensively in the city of Barcelona, despite formal governance channels and mechanisms created to facilitate and encourage resident participation. Taking the strategic action field perspective reveals that residents, as challengers, continue with protest and contestation because they perceive a threat from mass tourism, a bias in the political agenda and a risk of losing their autonomy. The main modes of protest used are gatherings in public spaces, promoting debate, providing information and extending the network. To advance their interests, challengers use protest and participation in a strategically dynamic way–i.e. they protest to empower participation and participate to empower protest.