Este artículo aborda la evolución reciente de las ciudades y la planificación de sus procesos de transformación, con un enfoque en el cambio de usos del suelo y las actividades de producción y consumo. Se destaca la irrupción del turismo y el proceso de turistificación asociado a la creación de nueva oferta de alojamiento, centrando el estudio en la ciudad de Barcelona, particularmente en la zona del Poblenou, parte del distrito de Sant Martí, que ha experimentado intensos cambios en las últimas décadas. Se plantea una doble premisa: la importancia de la planificación en los procesos de transformación y el papel del turismo en dichos procesos. La planificación en Sant Martí y Poblenou se ha basado en la normativa general de la ciudad, pero las necesidades específicas llevaron a la creación del Proyecto 22@Barcelona en 2000, y veinte años después, a la aprobación de un nuevo plan 22@. Los objetivos específicos del estudio son: 1) Analizar los instrumentos de planificación, especialmente el Plan 22@ del año 2000 y el nuevo plan 22@; 2) Examinar cómo ambos planes tratan el turismo y el proceso de turistificación del distrito en relación al alojamiento turístico; y 3) Evaluar la sinergia entre los planes 22@ y el desarrollo del turismo, así como la necesidad de nuevos instrumentos específicos para gestionar el turismo. La metodología de investigación se basa en la revisión y el análisis de bibliografía reciente, informes institucionales y documentación de los medios de comunicación, que se complementan con la observación del trabajo de campo y el tratamiento de datos estadísticos secundarios. Los resultados muestran que, si bien el balance general del Plan 22@ es positivo en términos de transformación urbana y dinamización socioeconómica, existen críticas respecto a la limitada implantación de empresas de innovación y conocimiento previstas en el plan original. En su lugar, han proliferado otras actividades, especialmente turísticas, que están generando efectos no deseados. Aunque el plan inicial no contemplaba explícitamente el desarrollo turístico, el nuevo plan, aún en fases preliminares, tampoco aborda esta cuestión, a pesar del marcado proceso de turistificación relacionado con el alojamiento en la zona, impulsado por las normativas vigentes en toda la ciudad.

La sostenibilidad se ha consolidado como un referente clave para los destinos turísticos que aspiran a ser competitivos en un mercado cada vez más diverso y consciente de los impactos de esta actividad. La competitividad en el turismo está vinculada a satisfacer las expectativas de los visitantes mediante productos o servicios de calidad, así como a lograr altos niveles de satisfacción. Este estudio argumenta la existencia de una relación estrecha entre sostenibilidad, competitividad y satisfacción turística. En México, el programa Pueblos Mágicos busca preservar el patrimonio cultural de los destinos y fomentar el desarrollo local sostenible a través del turismo. En este contexto se analiza el caso de San Cristóbal de las Casas, utilizando una metodología mixta que combina entrevistas cualitativas y un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM) con análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC), a partir de encuestas a turistas nacionales y extranjeros. Los resultados muestran que la calidad y seguridad del destino son los principales factores asociados a la satisfacción, seguidos por la diversidad de la oferta turística. A su vez, la satisfacción influye significativamente en la percepción de sostenibilidad. Las entrevistas revelan deficiencias en la preservación del patrimonio, la gestión ambiental y la educación en sostenibilidad, aunque también se reconoce un impacto socioeconómico positivo. En conclusión, si bien San Cristóbal de las Casas cuenta con una rica herencia cultural, su desarrollo sostenible en turismo aún es incipiente. Es fundamental implementar estrategias integrales que prioricen tanto el bienestar comunitario como la conservación ambiental, lo cual tiene implicaciones prácticas directas para la gestión de destinos turísticos sostenibles en contextos similares.

The tourism academic literature shows the contrast between efforts aimed at curbing seasonality and the poor performance of the policies. Is there a place for the public sector in managing tourism seasonality? This question is examined in our paper using first principles of public economics. This paper contributes to tourism seasonality theory with a conceptual framework of general applicability for evaluating policies. This framework is much needed, given the scarcity of rigorous policy evaluations in this area. The theoretical analysis argues that market failures, such as the existence of public goods, externalities, coordination problems, and imperfect information, may impede the implementation of product and market diversification needed by tourism firms to curb seasonality. We also consider the hypothesis that seasonal price differentiation may be limited by the intra-seasonal rigidities of wages, taxes and public prices. Our data, using Gini coefficients, reveal little to no progress in curbing seasonality in Mallorca. The empirical results are based on the importance-performance analysis (IPA) methodology applied through a questionnaire to Majorcan hotel managers. We identify eight sets of public policies relevant to tourism seasonality. Our empirical results suggest that public managers should increase efforts to coordinate the different segments of Mallorca’s tourism supply during the off-peak season, boost air connections and facilitate differential pricing through lower taxes and public prices. The results also indicate that public managers should continue deregulation efforts to allow flexibility in order to adapt the tourism product to suit the characteristics of off-peak seasonal demand. Also, the public sector may consider reducing its involvement in policies for diversifying and promoting the off-peak tourism product. Finally, responses from Majorcan hotel managers suggest that the public sector should play little or no role in gathering and disseminating information about products and markets in the off-peak season.

El estudio del turismo en las áreas naturales protegidas es una tarea de suma importancia y se ha analizado en numerosas publicaciones. Sin embargo, pocas veces se aborda desde la concepción teórico-metodológica de los paisajes como unidades de integración geográfica. El objetivo de la investigación es utilizar los polígonos de las unidades de los paisajes antroponaturales delimitadas y cartografiadas en la Zona de Protección Ambiental Pico Azul-La Escalera, Michoacán, México, para establecer su potencial en el desarrollo del turismo alternativo. Para ello, se determinó la aptitud natural para las actividades posibles a realizar como parte del turismo alternativo a partir de los indicadores: grado de naturalidad, índice de antropización de la cobertura vegetal, grado de inclinación de la pendiente, existencia de atractivos turísticos principales, complementarios y de apoyo, y la existencia de actividades económicas tradicionales o festividades. La aptitud natural, de conjunto con el análisis de la compatibilidad jurídica, la viabilidad ambiental, socioeconómica y técnico-financiera de los usos turísticos propuestos, permitió determinar el potencial de uso turístico para cada polígono de paisaje. Los resultados indican que los polígonos de paisajes con mayor potencial para el turismo alternativo se ubican al norte y noreste del ANP y son los que poseen gran parte de los bosques más conservados, la mayor cantidad de atractivos, mejor accesibilidad y, por tanto, mejores condiciones para esta actividad. Solo dos polígonos de las unidades de paisaje situadas en el centro, que presentan baja naturalidad, poseen un alto potencial turístico debido a la existencia de tradiciones culturales.

Transport is a key element in the tourism industry and in the tourist experience, not only because of the accessibility it provides to destinations but also for allowing mobility in and around them. Therefore, the aim of this study is to expand the knowledge on the transport-related information searches made by different tourists and determine those that are the most satisfactory, also taking into account the different destinations and types of trip purposes. An online survey was distributed to travellers asking about the means of transport and the aspects that concerned them on their last trip, as well as in which digital media they searched, at what moment and the degree of satisfaction generated by the search. Our study shows that different searches on transport-related information are made depending on the type of tourist, but also on the type of destination and the type of trip purpose. The results are interesting for DMOs and the management of tourism destinations.

This study examines the interrelationship between sustainability values, technology, and co-creation in tourism. While prior research has underscored the significance of sustainability in influencing tourist behaviour, this study reveals that sustainability values do not directly affect co-creation intentions. Instead, technology emerges as a pivotal mediating factor, bridging the gap between sustainability awareness and active participation in co-creation. Employing a sample of 401 tourists in Lisbon, the study utilises Partial Least Squares (PLS) structural equation modelling to analyse the relationships among these variables. The findings indicate that tourists with strong sustainability values perceive technology as an essential facilitator of responsible tourism. However, sustainability values alone do not significantly influence tourists’ perception of co-creation value or their intention to engage in co-creation activities. These results suggest that although sustainability-conscious tourists may endorse eco-friendly tourism, they do not necessarily engage in participatory co-creation behaviours unless technology is incorporated into the process. This finding implies that sustainability is frequently regarded as a passive commitment rather than an interactive, co-created experience. From a practical perspective, the study offers valuable insights for tourism stakeholders seeking to develop technology-driven solutions that enhance sustainable and interactive travel experiences. The findings suggest that digital platforms, artificial intelligence-powered tools, and blockchain-based transparency mechanisms can facilitate co-creation while fostering responsible tourism practices. By integrating sustainability and technological perspectives, this study contributes to theoretical advancements and provides strategic recommendations for promoting meaningful and sustainable tourism experiences in the digital era.

The image of a destination is an important element in the traveler’s decision-making process, yet it is highly susceptible to disruption during critical events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite growing interest in this topic, a gap remains in the literature regarding how Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) leverage social media to shape destination image, promote their brands, and reposition themselves during periods of uncertainty. Using Portugal as a case study, this research addresses this gap by investigating how the country’s DMO employed Instagram to project its destination image during the COVID-19 pandemic and examines the patterns of user engagement with this content. A mixed-methods approach has been used, beginning with a visual content analysis of 763 Instagram photographs published by Portugal’s DMO between 2019 and 2021. These photos were categorized into predefined patterns and themes, covering three phases of the pandemic (pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown). Quantitative analyses of associations and mean differences were then conducted to explore the adaptive strategies of the DMO and user engagement over time. The findings reveal that the DMO’s promotional strategy centered on nature and landscape attributes, highlighting Portugal's natural beauty to evoke interest and inspire visits. During the lockdown, the DMO adapted its strategy by reducing posts featuring people, outdoor activities, gastronomy, and cultural elements. Notably, user engagement on Instagram increased during the lockdown phase compared to the pre- and post-lockdown periods. Engagement analysis also indicates particular interest in gastronomy, culture, and art, highlighting the growing significance of tourist experiences and local lifestyles in tourism activities. However, preferences shifted away from depictions of social interactions, crowded spaces, and leisure activities during the critical crisis period, aligning with the DMO's strategies. This study contributes to the literature and offers practical implications for optimizing engagement and reinforcing destination image through strategic social media used in challenging contexts.

Several universities worldwide offer degrees in tourism studies to meet the demand of students interested in pursuing tourism as a career. Researching whether this academic offer meets the expectations of future tourism professionals is important, as this is pivotal to the students’ decision on whether to enter this sector, or not. Taking a quantitative approach, the aim of this paper is to examine and compare the perceptions of tourism degree studies, and their goals to pursue further education and a career in the tourism sector. Two universities in two countries are analyzed: the University of Girona (Spain) and the State University of Milagro (Ecuador). The questionnaire design includes questions related to professional perceptions and students' short- and long-term career goals. An Exploratory Factor Analysis of tourism career perceptions has been carried out in both universities to determine the underlying factors determining the students’ career perceptions. The findings show differences in perceptions of tourism studies between the two countries. In Ecuador, the studies are perceived as a single factor: “General perception about the career”, while in Spain they are perceived as two factors: “Perception of social pressure”, based on what society expects, and “Personal perception”, based on individual achievements or goals related to a tourism degree and the profession. These findings will enable higher education curriculum developers, tourism employers and the government to work together to offer programs that reduce the gap between expectations and the reality of the labor market by examining the personal, professional, and social perceptions of future tourism professionals.

An analysis was carried out of the factors that influence job satisfaction in management positions in the hotel sector in the province of Huelva (Spain) from a gender perspective, as well as of the existing gender differences in this sector. To detect gender differences, hypothesis tests for equality of means and proportions were carried out using the Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests, as well as the calculation of Spearman's Rho correlation coefficient to detect correlations between the factors influencing job satisfaction. It is concluded that both gender and sociodemographic differences exist in relation to the characteristics of these jobs. However, there are no significant gender differences regarding the degree of job satisfaction and the factors that determine job satisfaction. Moreover, both motivational and hygiene-related factors play an important role in influencing job satisfaction. The research concludes by providing a number of guidelines that could help reduce the gender differences found in these jobs and, at the same time, improve job satisfaction.

La sobresaturación turística implica efectos adversos no solo para los residentes sino también para los turistas en la calidad de su visita. Son limitados los estudios que se han focalizado al análisis de la visión del turista sobre este fenómeno, especialmente desde el centro emisor, de ahí la relevancia y novedad de esta investigación. El objetivo principal es analizar el impacto del “overtourism”, de la turistificación y de la pandemia COVID-19 en la percepción que tiene el visitante alemán sobre la autenticidad e identidad cultural de Palma (PMI). El enfoque de la investigación es cualitativo, siendo un estudio exploratorio consistente en la realización de entrevistas semiestructuradas a turistas residentes en Alemania que visitaron Palma en el periodo previo y posterior a la pandemia. Los resultados muestran que hay una influencia del “overtourism” y turistificación en las transformaciones visuales y espaciales de los recursos locales, interpretadas como la adaptación artificial exclusiva para el turista y que la autenticidad percibida es influenciada tanto por las experiencias e involucramiento del visitante en actividades locales como por las condiciones derivadas por la pandemia. Se concluye, por tanto, que la sobrepoblación turística genera un proceso de turistificación en el que, entre otras consecuencias, transforma la identidad genuina del destino y transfigura la autenticidad percibida.