Spain’s Tourist Areas: Types, Impacts, and Spatial Distribution
Tourist Areas and Types in Spain
Tourist areas are spaces that experience a high influx of tourists, both foreign and domestic. In Spain, the highest densities are found along the sun-drenched Mediterranean coastline. Alongside these large areas, there are isolated tourist spots like Salamanca and Segovia.
These tourist areas can be classified based on seasonality:
- Seasonal: Areas with above-average seasonality (e.g., Catalonia and the Balearic Islands).
- Stabilized: Areas with either prolonged stays (e.g., Canary Islands, Malaga, Alicante) or specific attractions related to their historic heritage (e.g., Granada).
Sun and Sand Tourist Areas
The Balearic and Canary Islands, along with the Mediterranean coast, are prime examples of sun and sand tourist areas. These areas differ based on:
- Accessibility: Tourist occupancy can be affected by the absence of good road and air links to areas of origin. Catalonia benefits from its international airport and proximity to Europe by road.
- Model of Space Occupation: In some cases, tourist accommodations are integrated into the existing urban structure, affecting the maritime facade of the traditional core. This includes warm and living accommodations for clientele, the predominance of hotels, and extended models of intensive low-density altitude, catering to high-grade or medium-low, domestic or foreign customers.
Other Tourist Areas
Since the 1990s, the spatial spread of tourism has intensified due to:
- Increased tourism generated by the proximity of large urban agglomerations.
- Interior rural areas embracing tourism as a strategy for economic diversification.
- The need to restructure traditional coastal spaces, incorporating tourism into the littoral zone.
- The demand for quality and new attractions.
Apart from sun and sand tourism, other types of tourism include:
- Madrid: The state capital, offering significant cultural tourism and hotel infrastructure.
- Galician and Cantabrian Coast: Coastal areas with outstanding rural landscapes.
- Rural Tourism Establishments: Born to support programs for rural development.
- Resorts
- Historical and Artistic Cities
Space Tourism Impact
Demographic Impact
In coastal areas, tourism increases population and the number of people employed in the tertiary sector and construction. In rural areas, it has helped stem depopulation and stimulated the revitalization of handicraft and folk traditions.
Impact on Settlement
On the coast, tourism contributes to the creation of new settlement structures and high density, leading to speculation of insulated flooring construction. In some rural and urban spaces, it has worked to rehabilitate built heritage.
Economic Impact
Tourism creates jobs, has a multiplier effect on other economies, brings about 11.4% of GDP (2003), offsets the trade balance and external debt, and has a brake effect on transport policy.
Political, Sociological, and Cultural Implications
Tourism encourages closer contact between peoples and cultures, affects the livelihoods of local society, and impacts the quality of life for residents.
Implications for Territory Management
In most tourist areas, tourism orders the spaces according to its needs, resulting in:
- Changes in the environment and landscape (e.g., building wetlands).
- Transformations in the economy (e.g., improving swamps).
- Conflicts over land use and resources (e.g., water use conflicts).
At points of interest, there are historic tourist centers specializing in tourist services. Rural areas may include abandoned agricultural land.