Spanish Tourism: Evolution, Impacts, and Challenges
Key Tourism Terms
Transport system: Media set to allow the movement of people and goods.
TEN (Trans-European Networks): Set of transmission systems to allow communication from the European Union countries.
Tour operator: Wholesale companies that integrate all phases of the tourist business (hotels, transport, etc.).
Tourist Seasonality: Concentration of demand at certain times of year (e.g., summer for sun and beach).
Wholesale: Concentrated production and sales to retail (other companies).
Retail: Selling directly to consumers.
Export: Sale of goods and services to other countries.
Import: Purchase of goods and services from other countries.
Single Market: At the European Union level, the existence of a single market with free movement of persons, goods, capital, and services.
Rating: Dual linear graph (imports and exports) of trade in Spain (1959-2003).
Reading: X = years (1959-2003), Y = imports and exports (one red, one blue).
Comment: Upward trend; imports and exports are growing steadily. Decrease since 1970. Imports pass from 758 thousand (1959) to 184,000 thousand (2003). Exports go from 523 million to 137,000 thousand.
Conclusion: The trade balance is the colored area in between. Traditionally, imports exceed exports in a year except 1986. Our trade balance is in deficit (offset by tourism and investment capital).
Tourist Areas in Spain
The word “tourist” came into use in Britain.
1. Factors in Spanish Tourism Development
Spain is a major tourist power by the volume of foreign tourism and income. The Spanish tourism boom in the sixties was motivated by external and internal factors.
A) External factors:
- Economic growth in Western Europe.
- The process of transportation.
B) Internal factors:
- The geographical proximity of Spain.
- Climatic conditions and attractive cultural landscape.
- Low-cost commercial airlines.
- Domestic demand.
- Improving infrastructure.
- Promotion (state, regional, and local).
2. The Traditional Tourism Model
Abundant supply, massive customer base, purchasing power.
2.1 Tourist Offer
Those who sell the product and travel agencies and tourist facilities. The offer of accommodation: hotels with more than one million places; other accommodation establishments account for more than ten million places. Maintenance, catering, cafeterias, bars, and recreational sports facilities are also part of the offer.
2.2 Tourism Demand
a) International demand has substantially increased since Spain’s entry into the European Union, reaching 85.6 million visitors in 2004.
b) Domestic demand grew from Madrid and Catalonia, also going to the north coasts and inland villages; more supply comes from non-hotel accommodations.
c) Excessive seasonality of demand.
3. The Crisis of the Traditional Model and Alternative Tourism
3.1 The Causes of the Crisis:
Since 1989, we can speak of a crisis or collapse. Causes:
a) The predominance of low-level tourism.
b) The tourist sector faces problems such as lack of price rigidity and adaptation, seasonality, and competition.
c) Dependence on international tour operators, who demand more quality while reducing prices.
d) Environmental degradation and landscape alterations.
3.2 Alternative Tourism and New Tourism Policy
These problems require conversion and renewal. Tourism policy has the following objectives:
a) Enhance quality tourism (with high purchasing power).
b) Improve the supply, new forms of tourism: sports tourism, rural tourism, ecotourism, urban tourism.
c) Reduce external dependence by creating national tour operators.
d) Develop tourism compatible with environmental quality. Today, there is concern that tourism does not harm the environment.
4. Tourist Areas and Their Typology
Tourist areas are spaces with a high density. IASL classifies tourist spots based on resorts, rural tourism, and historic cities.
5. The Spatial Impact of Tourism
5.1 Demographic Repercussions
In coastal areas, tourism increases the effective population and the population employed in the tertiary sector and construction. In rural areas, it has, in some cases, stopped depopulation. Migration has also been mitigated in some historic towns.
5.2 Impact on Settlement
On the coast, it has frequently brought high-density construction and land speculation. In some rural and urban areas, it has contributed to the rehabilitation of built heritage.
5.3 Economic Impacts
Tourism creates jobs, much of which is seasonal. It exerts a multiplier effect on other activities, contributing approximately 11.4% of the trade balance and GDP. It compensates for and slows down debt. It influences transport policy, which has been directed at providing good accessibility to tourist resorts. It modernizes the airport network and has increased port capacity for boats.
5.4 Political, Cultural, and Sociological Impact
Tourism promotes bringing people together and contact between cultures. It impacts the livelihoods of local society and affects the quality of life of residents.
5.5 Repercussions on Regional Planning
a) In most tourist areas, tourism spaces are next to orders. Implications: Changes in the environment and landscape; changes in the economy; conflict over land use and resources.
b) In tourist attractions, historic centers specialize in service activities for tourists.
c) In rural areas, it can create conflicts with other activities.
5.6 Environmental Impacts
Survey of large blocks of apartments and hotels next to villages, uncontrolled pollution of beaches and forests, which currently require protection and rehabilitation policies.