The Tourist Destination Management and Its Dynamism: The Case of Barcelona Versus Catalonia

Abstract

The present article tries to evaluate, from the analysis of different manage­rial components and factors, the degree of competitiveness and dynamism of a tourist destination. To carry out this analysis, the city of Barcelona and its role as the capital of Catalonia have been chosen. At a time of deep world­wide economic crisis due to Covid-19 pandemic tourism has declining by 70% worldwide during 2020. Nevertheless, tourism has demonstrated its great resilience and strength as a global engine for economic activities development generating jobs and wealth over the last decades. It is in this context, where the article analyzes the behavior of Barcelona, as a reference for the destina­tion Catalonia, in front the pandemic crisis and the strength of new emerging tourism competitors. Indeed, the reorganization of the pattern of distribution of tourist flows in the global tourism market due to health restrictions and the pace of economic emitting powers recovery generates a significant number of new opportunities. Tourist flows are posing new challenges in terms of their reception, the management of their stay and the fulfillment of a high degree of satisfaction in relation to their tourist experience. This article analyses a series of strategies promoted by different agents and managers in the field of tourism to subsequently present a set of recommendations to help assist decision-mak­ing in a tourism sector that is going through difficult times.