Tourist gentrification processes on small coastal villages: the example of the coast of Arta (Mallorca)

Abstract

This paper aims to demonstrate how the increasing tourist pressure is transforming the residential function of the coastal settlements of Arta. The analysis of population displacements, changes in commercial activities and the expansion of tourist commodification of houses are factors that allow us to consider tourism as a gentrification driving force in these summer colonies.The used methodology has been based on: fieldwork with surveys and localpeople interviews, statistical analysis, and mapping of urban developmentand renting holiday homes, using data from the websites of Airbnb and its analysis in Insideairbnb. The proliferation of the tourist holiday homesand the lack of regulation has resulted into the acceleration of thetourist gentrification process with its consequent spatial segregation. Thus, we could define this new type of tourism as a gentrification forcein summer colonies, such as those in Arta’s seaside.

Key words: gentrification; residential touristification; touristic holiday homes; summer colonies.