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IN BRIEF
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Seville, a jewel of Andalusia, is today facing major challenges posed by mass tourism that is transforming its face and that of its historic neighborhoods. Attracting more visitors each year, the Andalusian capital sees its residents struggling to find housing, while tourism activity heavily impacts the urban balance. This article explores the causes of this overcrowding, the diversification measures taken, and the tensions between economic development and the preservation of local quality of life.
Seville and the Recent Tourist Explosion #
Between 2022 and 2024, Spain experienced a spectacular increase in the number of foreign tourists, with a growth of 31%. Andalusia, a region beloved by travelers for its rich heritage, sees its cities like Seville overwhelmed, intensifying competition in the housing market and transforming its most emblematic neighborhoods. Driven by a GDP growth of 3.2% and colossal tourist revenues – 126 billion euros spent by 94 million foreign visitors in 2024 – Spain is shining economically, but this growth also raises local concerns.
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Despite the diversity of accounting methods across regions and the opacity surrounding tourist rentals like Airbnb, the observation remains the same: tourism is transforming the urban dynamics of Seville. Continuous inflows exacerbate an unequal process, particularly within the historic center, where the consequences are direct for residents.
A Tourist Paradise That Has Become Problematic #
Seville has built a tourist reputation for centuries. Its trajectory has been marked by its role as a commercial crossroads during the Muslim era, then due to its monopoly on colonial trade from the 16th century, before becoming a source of inspiration for romantics and contemporary tourism. From cultural works to major events, the evolution of offerings has adapted to travelers’ desires, making the city a must-visit in Andalusia.
Infrastructures have developed alongside the city’s growth, particularly through events like the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929 or Expo 92, which profoundly reshaped the urban space. However, while these projects accompanied Seville’s openness and attractiveness, they now raise questions about their social and heritage costs.
Attempts at Diversification and New Forms of Tourism #
In face of the saturation of the historic center, the Seville authorities are looking to channel flows and extend tourist appeal. The creation of contemporary landmarks, such as the Metropol Parasol structure (nicknamed “Las Setas”) and the Pelli Tower, aimed to diversify points of interest in the immediate surroundings of the city’s ancient core. Although these additions initially sparked controversy, they are now integrated into the visitor circuits.
In addition to showcasing previously overlooked neighborhoods, such as Triana or La Macarena, Seville is also leveraging cinematic tourism, capitalizing on the enthusiasm surrounding productions filmed in the city like Game of Thrones or Star Wars. Organizing sporting events, festivals, or focusing on adventure tourism and astrotourism illustrates a desire to renew the visitor experience while extending seasonality.
Worrying Social and Urban Consequences #
The rise of short-term vacation rentals, often professional, is disrupting urban life. Rents are skyrocketing, forcing many residents to move from the center to the outskirts, while the authenticity and identity of historic neighborhoods are threatened by homogenization of businesses and the invasion of bars, creating the phenomenon of “baretización.” This process is not unique to Seville, as illustrated by the case of Granada, where the effects of overcrowding are becoming critical.
While public authorities are trying to measure the situation – by legislating on the number of tourist apartments per neighborhood or seeking to better regulate this opaque sector – the measures adopted struggle to keep pace with the rapidity of the transformation. In some neighborhoods, nearly 18% of housing already falls within the tourist segment, an alarming situation for social diversity and quality of life.
Reactions and Citizen Mobilization #
For several years, citizen groups such as Cactus or Sevilla se muere have expressed their opposition to the excessive commodification of the city and the loss of housing for local Sevillians. They denounce institutional double talk, between promoting tourism as an economic engine and the lack of effective measures to protect the interests of the local population.
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The issue of housing, the epicenter of tensions, is subject to intense political debate, oscillating between restrictive measures and opening up to the market, with no retroactive measures possible to act on the existing situation. This climate underscores the need for a transformation of local tourism governance, similar to initiatives undertaken in other European regions highlighted in this article on the transformation of tourism governance.
An Equilibrium to Be Invented for the Future #
Seville, like other destinations in full transformation, must position itself to invent new models where tourism contributes to economic vitality without distorting the social and heritage fabric. Exploring solutions such as the development of green tourism, supporting sectors like ecotourism, or promoting alternative getaways – for instance through cultural or sporting escapes, or even a trip to Greece – could inspire new avenues to remedy the harmful effects of mass tourism.
The reflection continues now on the local and European scene, akin to the recent ministerial visit mentioned in this event dedicated to rural tourism. Seville, balancing the preservation of its identity and the promotion of its international attractiveness, remains a laboratory of tensions and major challenges related to contemporary tourism economy.
