Spain’s Tourism: Development, Impacts, and Key Destinations

Posted on Dec 9, 2024 in Geography

Tourism is an activity that implies the temporary displacement of residence with leisure objectives: tourists staying overnight in Spain, not hikers. The word tourist is an English term that defines a person who travels for pleasure or cultural reasons. In the 19th century, tourism was an activity performed only by aristocrats. However, since the 1970s, it has become a mass phenomenon.

Spanish Tourism Development Factors

Since 1960, Spain has experienced a great development of tourism. In 2000, according to Mesquida (Secretary of State for Tourism), Spain received the most revenue through tourism after the United States. The Spanish tourism boom in the 1960s was motivated by internal and external factors.

External Factors

  • Economic growth in Europe after World War II increased purchasing power and consumption, allowing people to travel further to spend their leisure time. This was boosted by the entry into force of the law of paid leave for the working classes.
  • Progress in transportation facilitated travel, as it reduced the price of air travel, improved the road and rail network, and increased automobile use.

Internal Factors

  • Spain’s geographical proximity to the European clientele.
  • The excellent climate, landscape, and quality of beaches.
  • Cultural attractions: monuments, gastronomy, and folklore.
  • Low cost.
  • The emergence of large hotels and travel agencies.

At present, some of these factors are not equally important, and others have become more significant, such as:

  • The consolidation of a large domestic demand.
  • The quality of supply.
  • The diversification of tourism products offered.
  • The availability of skilled human resources.
  • Improved transport infrastructure.
  • State promotion.
  • Political instability in competing areas such as the Balkans and the countries of North Africa.

Tourist Areas and Their Classification

Tourist areas are spaces that have a large influx of tourists, both foreign and domestic. In Spain, the highest densities correspond to areas of sun and beach tourism, such as the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean coast. Madrid also receives a lot of cultural tourism. In addition, alongside these major tourist spots are isolated areas based on different attractions such as skiing, rural tourism, and historic cities (Salamanca, Granada, etc.). All these areas can be classified according to their use in the tourist season, such as Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, or stabilized tourism, such as the Canary Islands, Malaga, and Alicante.

Impact on Settlement

  • On the coast, tourism contributes to the creation of new structures for habitation. It also causes high-density construction.
  • In some rural and urban areas, it has contributed to the rehabilitation of built heritage.

Economic Impact

  • Tourism creates jobs, but employment is often unskilled and seasonal.
  • It exerts a multiplier effect on other economic activities (construction, industry, and agriculture).
  • It provides approximately 11% of GDP, making it one of the main pillars of the Spanish economy.
  • It improves the balance of payments and the balance of trade.
  • It influences transport policy, which aims to provide good accessibility to tourist resorts. Tourism has contributed to the creation of highways, the development and modernization of the network of airports, and increased port capacity.

Cultural and Sociological Implications

  • Tourism promotes closer relations among peoples.
  • It affects the livelihoods of local society, which can be negative, causing a loss of identity, and positive, stimulating modernization.
  • It affects the quality of life for residents, as it can cause overcrowding.

Land Management Implications

  • A) In most tourist areas, spaces are ordered according to their needs, turning them into recreational areas (sports complexes) or peripheral services. Its consequences are:
    • Changes in the environment and the landscape: construction of reservoirs, roads, etc.
    • Changes in the economy.
    • Conflicts over land use and resources.
  • B) Historic centers specialize in the service of tourist activities (souvenirs, crafts, etc.).
  • C) In rural areas, tourism can create conflicts with other activities and encourage the cessation of farming.

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact comes from the strong development of the sector in a short time in a confined space when there was no widespread environmental concern. Consequences include complex construction near beaches, as there was no environmental protection. This endangers not only the environment but also the tourist attraction of the country.