Don’t blame the tourists for Alicante’s failings
Tourism is increasingly being blamed for many of Alicante’s problems, from overcrowded streets and rising rents to the disappearance of traditional shops. Yet attacking an industry that generates around 30 per cent of the province’s GDP is dangerously short-sighted. The real question is not whether Alicante has too many tourists, but whether it has too […] The post Don’t blame the tourists for…
Alicante's problems, such as overcrowded streets, rising rents, and the loss of traditional shops, are often blamed on the influx of tourists. However, this is an oversimplification and does a disservice to the industry that contributes 30% of the province's GDP. Instead of targeting tourists, the real issue lies with ineffective tourism management.
Visitors are not responsible for the closure of Santa Bárbara Castle, the unrepaired damage to Alicante City Hall, or the shortage of shaded areas in the city center. These issues stem from poor management, insufficient investment, and inadequate public administration. Residents have the right to voice concerns about overcrowding, but they should not resent the visitors who provide essential services, like year-round flights, that support thousands of jobs and connect the province to European destinations.
The decline of local retail is part of a larger trend driven by large shopping centers, low-cost stores, and online platforms, which have changed consumer habits. Local businesses struggle to compete with multinational retailers and digital marketplaces offering cheap products. Planning changes, particularly in historic centers, are often driven by tourism, with entire apartment buildings being converted into holiday rentals.
This rapid expansion has led to what has been termed "tourismphobia," a phenomenon that has spread beyond Barcelona to include cities like Madrid, Mallorca, and various municipalities in the Valencian Community. The scale of the holiday apartment market is significant, with an estimated 89,000 beds in the region's main tourist destinations and 600,000 places offered through tourist rentals.
Proper regulation, rather than hostility towards tourists, is needed to address these issues. Online platforms should only list legally registered properties to ensure effective enforcement. The economic impact of mismanaging tourism is substantial, with tourism contributing to 15% of Alicante's GDP and €11 billion in annual revenue across the Costa Blanca.
Around 400,000 jobs depend on this sector, making it crucial to improve regulation, protect neighborhoods, and enhance public services. Blaming tourists for decades of inadequate planning and enforcement does not solve the problem; it is a matter of how tourism is managed by politicians and tourism professionals.
Written by urgent.news from The Leader's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
