IN-PERSON Barcelona Livable Cities. Section B

Abstract

Growing tourist flows in urban destinations are reshaping residents’ daily living patterns, raising concerns about the livability of tourist-heavy cities. While research primarily focuses on tourism’s generalized impacts on quality of life of the local population, almost no attention has been paid to how tourist presence affects residents’ common activities, such as daily mobility. Understanding these interactions is crucial for sustainable urban tourism management and maintaining community’s quality of life. To address this research gap, this study analyzes how tourists affect residents’ daily mobility habits in Barcelona, examining spatial, temporal, and modal patterns of tourist-resident interactions. Using data from 2,008 residents surveyed in 2022, we investigate how different population segments experience tourist presence during their daily trips and assess various dimensions of impact, including journey duration, route modification, perceived safety, and comfort. For example, our findings reveal that residents who regularly encounter tourists during work trips are typically younger, more educated, and have higher incomes compared to those who do not. The impact of tourist presence varies significantly by time of day, with afternoon trips showing the highest negative perceptions. Transport mode choice also influences the interaction experience: public transport users report the highest impact on comfort, and pedestrians the lowest. Spatially, central districts show higher impact levels, with Ciutat Vella destinations declaring the highest negative effects on comfort and journey duration. With these findings, we aim to contribute to understanding tourism’s impact on urban mobility and have implications for urban planning strategies that balance visitor access with resident needs.