Understanding Tourism: Types, Impacts, and Key Areas

Types of Tourism

Tourism encompasses various forms, from traditional sun and sea tourism to specialized areas like spa and wellness tourism. Other types include:

  • Hiking and Mountain Climbing: Activities focused on exploring mountainous regions.
  • Eco-tourism and Ecotourism: Visits to protected rural areas like national parks.
  • Agritourism: Stays in the countryside, often involving accommodation.
  • Urban and Cultural Tourism: Focused on cities with historical, artistic, and cultural significance.
  • Business Tourism: Centered around fairs, exhibitions, and conferences.

Tourist Areas

Tourist areas are large spaces with a high density of tourists. Tourist spots are more isolated, such as ski resorts. These spots can be seasonal, with above-average seasonality, extended stays, or unique viewpoints.

High-Density Tourist Areas

Sun and beach tourism areas, such as the Balearic and Canary Islands and the Mediterranean coast, differ significantly in accessibility, spatial models, and accommodation types.

  • Accessibility: Influences early tourism development.
  • Spatial Model: Tourist facilities integrate with existing population centers or are newly developed.
  • Accommodation: Areas are distinguished by a predominance of hotels or extra-hotel options.

Madrid, as the capital and financial center, experiences minimal seasonal tourism and offers a wide range of hotels for cultural tourists.

Medium and Low-Density Tourist Areas and Spots

These areas are also related to the dissemination of sun and beach tourism.

  • Coastal Sections: Parts of the southern Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts have joined sun tourism.
  • Galician and Cantabrian Coastline: Offers less crowded coastal and inland areas with rural landscapes and natural views.
  • Tourist Spots: Include popular resorts, rural tourism establishments, and historical cities.

Spatial Impact of Tourism

Demographic Impact

In coastal areas, tourism increases the effective population. This includes young adults seeking work and older adults relocating for commercial, therapeutic, or recreational reasons. Tourism also increases employment in the tertiary sector and construction, particularly in rural, mountainous areas, and historic cities.

Impact on the Built Environment

On the coast, tourism drives urban settlement and agglomeration. In rural, mountain, and urban areas, tourism contributes to the rehabilitation of built heritage.

Economic Impact

Tourism generates over 12% of employment, although much of it is seasonal. It has a multiplier effect on agriculture, industry, construction, transportation, and trade. Tourism brings wealth to the country, offsets the trade balance, and influences transport policy to improve accessibility to tourist resorts.

Political, Cultural, and Sociological Impact

Tourism promotes closer relations between peoples and impacts local society. This impact is positive when it encourages social change and modernization, but negative when it leads to the loss of customs.

Impact on Land Planning

In coastal areas, tourism transforms spaces into recreational areas (sports complexes, amusement parks) or service peripheries (water, food). This leads to:

  • Changes in the environment and landscape.
  • Economic transformations, including land revaluation.
  • Conflicts over land use and resources.

In rural and mountain areas, tourism can conflict with agricultural activities or encourage their abandonment. In historic towns, old centers specialize in tourist services (local handicrafts, souvenirs), while peripheries accommodate second homes or hotels.

Environmental Impact

Significant environmental impact results from rapid tourism sector development, including the construction of large hotels and apartments near beaches, air and water pollution, and excessive noise.